A new study suggests that getting extra sleep on the weekends could be good for your heart. Research presented at a cardiology meeting in London found that catching up on sleep during the weekend can lower the risk of heart disease by up to 20%. The study emphasizes how important it is to make up for lost sleep, especially if you don’t get enough rest during the weekdays.

Yanjun Song, from Fuwai Hospital in Beijing led a study that analyzed data from nearly 91,000 people in the UK Biobank research project. Participants wore sleep monitors so researchers could track their sleep patterns and heart health over about 14 years. The results showed that 22% of the participants were sleep-deprived, getting less than seven hours of sleep each night. Those who made up for lost sleep on the weekends were much less likely to develop heart disease.

These findings are encouraging, but they are still considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. However, they align with broader research showing that people who consistently get less than seven hours of sleep per night have an increased risk of heart disease, regardless of other factors like age, weight, smoking, and exercise habits. Making up for lost sleep on the weekends could help mitigate some of this risk, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing sleep for overall heart health.

 

SOURCE:

US News, August 29, 2024

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