A recent study indicates that sleeping Longer on weekends may reduce the risk of heart disease by 20%.

For many individuals who rise early for school or work during the weekdays, insufficient sleep is a prevalent issue. 

According to a recent Gallup survey, 57% of adults expressed that they would "feel better if they obtained more sleep," while only 42% reported receiving "the amount of sleep they require." 

For some, sleeping in on weekends is a natural inclination, and new research suggests that this practice can yield unexpected advantages for cardiovascular health. 

At the upcoming European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2024 in London, scheduled from August 30 to September 2, researchers from China will present findings derived from a U.K. Biobank study, which examined sleep patterns of 90,903 participants over an average span of 14 years. 

Among these individuals, 19,816 (21.8%) reported experiencing sleep deprivation, defined as obtaining less than seven hours of sleep per night, while the remainder reported occasional insufficient sleep, as noted in a press release on the ESC website. 

Those who compensated for sleep on weekends exhibited a 20% reduced risk of developing heart disease, including conditions such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke, in comparison to those who slept the least. 

This conclusion was drawn from an analysis of hospitalization records and death registries, as stated in the release. 

Yanjun Song, a co-author of the study from the State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease at Fuwai Hospital, National Centre for Cardiovascular Disease in Beijing, China, confirmed that "adequate compensatory sleep is associated with a decreased risk of heart disease." 

The expert cautioned that this information should not lead individuals to believe they can simply recover from sleep deprivation by sleeping longer on weekends. 

"The most prudent advice remains that individuals should prioritize obtaining sufficient sleep during both weekdays and weekends," she advised, suggesting a "relatively consistent" sleep-wake routine each day.