Can sleeping in on weekends improve heart health? New study suggests a 20% risk reduction

In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals find themselves sleep-deprived during the workweek, often attempting to compensate by sleeping in on weekends.

Recent research indicates that these weekend lie-ins could play a crucial role in reducing the risk of heart disease.

The study highlights that catching up on sleep during weekends may significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular issues, particularly for those who struggle to get enough rest during the week due to demanding work or school schedules.

According to the study's co-author, Yanjun Song from the State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease at Fuwai Hospital, National Centre for Cardiovascular Disease in Beijing, China, "Getting enough compensatory sleep is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease." He emphasized that this benefit is even more pronounced among individuals who regularly experience insufficient sleep on weekdays.

The findings, presented at the European Society of Cardiology conference, reveal that people who make up for lost sleep on weekends may lower their risk of developing heart disease by as much as 20%.

The research, which analyzed data from 90,903 participants in the UK Biobank, identified 19,816 individuals who were sleep-deprived. Over a 14-year period, those who caught up on sleep during weekends were found to be 19% less likely to develop heart disease compared to those who did not compensate for their lost sleep.

While it is common knowledge that people often try to recover from sleep deprivation by sleeping longer on days off, the study provides valuable insights into the potential heart health benefits of this compensatory sleep. However, the researchers noted that more studies are needed to fully understand the long-term effects of weekend catch-up sleep on cardiovascular health.