It has potential to lower heart disease risk by 20%.
A recent investigation indicates that making up for lost sleep over weekends could significantly benefit heart health. This research, to be shared at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual conference in London, suggests that weekend sleep recovery might reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as 20%.
The study, led by Yanjun Song from Fuwai Hospital in Beijing, highlights that catching up on sleep during weekends is associated with a decreased risk of heart disease, particularly for those who typically face sleep deficits during the workweek.
Researchers examined data from approximately 91,000 participants in the UK Biobank project, which tracked sleep patterns using monitors and assessed heart health over time. Around 22% of these individuals were classified as sleep-deprived, obtaining less than seven hours of sleep per night.
Results revealed that individuals who used weekends to make up for lost sleep had a 19% lower likelihood of developing heart disease compared to those who did not engage in sleep recovery. For those with persistent sleep deprivation during weekdays, weekend sleep recovery was linked to a 20% reduction in heart disease risk.
These findings were discussed at a medical conference and should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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