New research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress suggests that catching up on lost sleep on the weekends may lower the risk of heart disease in adults who struggle to get enough quality sleep during the week. A study conducted by cardiovascular researchers in China found that those who got the most sleep on the weekend were 19% less likely to develop heart disease compared to those who slept the least extra hours on those days.
The study analyzed data from over 90,000 subjects from the UK Biobank project, focusing on the relationship between heart disease and “compensated sleep” – catching up on lost sleep during the weekend. Participants self-reported their sleep hours and were divided into four groups based on how much extra sleep they got on the weekends. After almost 14 years of follow-up, those who caught up on the most sleep were significantly less likely to develop heart disease.
While the study has limitations and does not prove that weekend catch-up sleep directly improves heart health, experts caution that catching up on sleep may not fully undo the effects of sleep debt accumulated during the week. Previous research has linked catch-up sleep behavior with increased snacking and weight gain, indicating that weekend sleep alone may not reduce the risks associated with chronic sleep deprivation.
Overall, the study highlights the importance of getting enough quality sleep regularly for heart health and overall well-being. Experts suggest that efforts to establish consistent sleep routines and habits may be more beneficial in the long run than relying on weekend catch-up sleep to mitigate the consequences of inadequate rest during the week.
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