A new study has revealed that getting extra sleep on weekends can significantly lower the risk of heart disease. Research indicates that individuals who catch up on sleep during the weekends can reduce their heart disease risk by up to 20%.
“Sufficient compensatory sleep is linked to a lower risk of heart disease,” said Yanjun Song, a researcher at Fuwai Hospital in Beijing and co-author of the study. The research team analyzed sleep data from 90,900 residents in the UK. They found that nearly 22% of participants, approximately 19,800 individuals, were classified as sleep-deprived, averaging less than seven hours of sleep per night.
The researchers followed these participants for nearly 14 years, monitoring hospital records and death certificates for heart-related conditions, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. The results showed that those who got the most compensatory sleep had a 19% lower likelihood of developing heart disease. Among sleep-deprived participants, those who enjoyed the highest amounts of catch-up sleep experienced a 20% reduced risk of heart disease.
Interestingly, the data did not indicate any significant differences between men and women regarding these findings.
Expert Insights
Dr. Nisha Parikh, director of the Women’s Heart Program at Northwell Health’s Cardiovascular Institute, praised the study as a “well-conducted analysis.” She noted that sleep disorders, including sleep deprivation, are linked to various cardiometabolic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. “It is reassuring that weekend catch-up sleep can at least partially mitigate the effects of weekday sleep deprivation,” Parikh stated.
The findings were presented at the annual European Society of Cardiology (ESC) conference.
“Our results indicate that a significant portion of the population suffers from sleep deprivation. Those who get the most catch-up sleep on weekends have significantly lower rates of heart disease compared to those who get the least,” said study co-author Zechen Liu.
Recommendations for Sleep
Despite these promising findings, experts recommend that adults aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night to avoid accumulating sleep debt.
In related news presented at the ESC Congress, researchers from Denmark found that women with endometriosis face a 20% higher risk of heart attack and stroke compared to women without the condition.
Endometriosis affects over 6.5 million women in the United States and occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it.
Additionally, men with coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease in the U.S., can reduce their risk of a major heart incident by nearly half by quitting smoking altogether. Researchers emphasized that simply cutting back on cigarettes is not enough to make a significant difference.
Conclusion
The new study highlights the importance of sleep in reducing heart disease risk. Catching up on sleep during weekends can provide significant cardiovascular benefits, particularly for those who experience sleep deprivation during the week. As research continues to evolve, it remains crucial for individuals to prioritize healthy sleep habits as part of their overall heart health strategy.