Do you love sleeping in on weekends? Some may frown upon it, but hold on to your pillows, as your habit may actually save your life! A groundbreaking study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress this year dropped comforting news for the sleep-deprived. Scientists concluded that snoozing extra on weekends might lower your heart disease risk by a whopping 20%.
As we recently shared, research also showed that insufficient night sleep hurts mental health. While you may not be able to do much about that during the week, when your work and family obligations and your daily routine get the best of you, there’s still hope for the weekends. Your Saturday lie-ins may do more than just recharge your batteries. They may contribute to better cardiovascular health, helping you prevent heart disease risk.
How Does Sleeping in on Weekends Prevent Heart Disease?
The UK Biobank project, a massive reservoir of human health data, has been collecting biological samples since 2006. Their latest findings suggest that weekend sleep-ins may do more than just boost your mood. They may act as a shield against heart disease.
The study wasn’t just a quick glance at sleep patterns. It processed data from a staggering 90,903 individuals. Researchers organized participant data into four groups, based on their “compensatory sleep” habits. They also kept an eye on self-reported sleep deprivation, with nearly 22% of participants admitting to get less than seven hours of night sleep.
The most significant drop in heart disease risk was spotted in the sleep-deprived crowd who maxed out on weekend sleep, clocking in an extra 1.28 to 16.06 hours. The benefits were spread out evenly between men and women, with no gender-related differences being spotted.
Just in case you didn’t dive into the details, heart disease is a general term for anything from ischaemic heart disease and heart failure to atrial fibrillation and strokes. These are life-threatening conditions, so sleeping in on weekends is the least you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.