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Quality nighttime rest is often associated with the number of hours we sleep. But when we go to bed may matter more than how long we sleep.
A team of British sleep researchers found that regular sleep and wake times are linked to overall health and to the risk of premature death.
The study found that people who consistently sleep 7 to 8 hours but keep an irregular sleep schedule face a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, and even cancer than those who sleep less but maintain a steady routine.
What Did the Researchers Find?
The team analyzed sleep data from about 61,000 people in the UK Biobank. In total, the researchers examined more than 10 million hours of sleep. Using advanced analytical methods, they compared participants’ sleep habits with mortality statistics, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
Overall, people with the most stable sleep and wake patterns had a 48 percent lower risk of death from all causes compared with people who kept irregular sleep schedules.
The findings don’t mean you can thrive on four hours of sleep a night simply by going to bed at the same time each night. Adequate sleep duration still matters.
Participants who slept less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours per night faced a similarly high risk of premature death.
Sleep duration still mattered, but the link between irregular sleep patterns and mortality was stronger and more consistent.
The researchers hope these results will prompt healthcare professionals to rethink sleep recommendations.
The study’s findings were published in the journal Sleep.
