We've known for years that sleep matters, but new data from Oregon Health & Science University makes the stakes even clearer. Researchers found that insufficient sleep (fewer than seven hours per night) was significantly associated with shorter life expectancy, second only to smoking in its impact on mortality when controlling for diet, physical activity, and other traditional health behaviors. The relationship held across diverse populations regardless of income level, access to healthcare, or geographic location, suggesting that sleep insufficiency affects longevity in a fundamental way. It's essential to note that sleeping fewer than seven hours isn't always about dedicating insufficient time to rest. Many people struggle with sleep because of a disrupted stress response system and dysregulated HPA axis, which keeps the nervous system in a state of hyperarousal even when you're exhausted.