New research suggests that for adults who struggle to get enough quality sleep during the week, catching up on lost hours on the weekends may reduce the risk of heart disease. A study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in London found that people who got the most sleep on the weekends were 19% less likely to develop heart disease compared to those who slept the fewest extra hours on Saturday and Sunday.
The study analyzed data from nearly 91,000 participants from the UK Biobank project, looking specifically at how “compensated sleep” on the weekends affected heart health. Participants who slept the most extra hours on the weekend were less likely to develop heart disease after almost 14 years of follow-up.
However, the study has limitations and does not prove that weekend catch-up sleep directly leads to better heart health. Other factors not studied could be responsible for the results, and sleeping extra on the weekends may not fully make up for a large sleep debt accumulated throughout the week. In some cases, catching up on sleep could lead to increased snacking and weight gain.
Experts recommend aiming for at least seven hours of quality sleep each night and caution against using weekend sleep to make up for prolonged sleep deprivation. Only 42% of U.S. adults report getting enough sleep, with many saying they would feel better if they could get more rest.
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