A recent study presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual meeting suggests that catching up on sleep during the weekend could reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 20%. Researchers analyzed data from 90,903 adults participating in the UK Biobank project, which tracks the medical and lifestyle habits of half a million people in the UK.

Sleep Deprivation and Heart Health

The study focused on 19,816 participants who reported sleeping less than seven hours per night, classifying them as sleep-deprived. Over a 14-year follow-up period, those who managed to get extra sleep during the weekends were found to have a 19% lower risk of developing heart disease compared to those who did not catch up on sleep.

The Impact of Weekend Rest

Participants who compensated for lost sleep by sleeping between 1.28 and 16.06 extra hours over the weekend saw the most significant health benefits. In contrast, those who lost up to 16 hours of sleep over the weekend were at a higher risk.

Expert Insights on Sleep and Health

Professor Yanjun Song from China’s National Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases highlighted that sufficient compensatory sleep, especially for those who miss out during the week, is linked to a lower risk of heart disease. Co-author Zechen Liu emphasized that this finding is particularly relevant in modern society, where sleep deprivation is common.

British Heart Foundation’s Professor James Leiper, who was not involved in the study, noted that while weekend catch-up sleep is not a substitute for regular sleep, it might still help reduce heart disease risk.