New research presented at a cardiology conference suggests that moderate weekend catch-up sleep may help protect against high blood pressure.
Key facts
- •The study analyzed 40,000 adults in South Korea over a seven-year period.
- •An ideal benchmark of 1 hour and 27 minutes of extra sleep was linked to a 9% lower risk of high blood pressure.
- •Physically inactive individuals saw a 6.9% reduction in the odds of hypertension with weekend catch-up sleep.
- •Sleeping more than four hours extra on the weekend was associated with an increased risk of hypertension.
- •Globally, more than 1.3 billion people suffer from hypertension.
A study presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Munich suggests that catching up on sleep during the weekend may offer health benefits. Researchers found that a modest amount of extra sleep can be associated with a lower prevalence of high blood pressure, provided it is not excessive. The findings offer a potential counterpoint to long-standing advice that weekend lie-ins disrupt the body's internal clock.
By the numbers
Study Findings and Methodology
The research, led by Dr. Nawon Lee of Korea University in Seoul, analyzed data from 40,000 adults in South Korea over a seven-year period. The study defined weekend catch-up sleep as the difference between sleep duration on weekdays and weekends. Overall, participants who engaged in catch-up sleep saw a 6% reduction in the odds of developing hypertension. The study identified an ideal benchmark of 1 hour and 27 minutes of extra sleep, which was associated with a 9% lower likelihood of having high blood pressure.
The Risks of Excessive Sleep
While moderate sleep recovery may be beneficial, Dr. Lee cautioned that excessive weekend sleep can be harmful. The research indicated that individuals who slept more than four hours extra on the weekend faced a greater risk of hypertension. Dr. Lee explained that while moderate catch-up sleep helps compensate for sleep deprivation during the week, excessive amounts may cause circadian disruption and sleep irregularity that outweigh the potential health benefits.
Context and Expert Perspective
Hypertension affects more than 1.3 billion people globally and is linked to increased risks of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, a consultant cardiologist and clinical director of the British Heart Foundation, noted that while the study provides a reason to feel less guilty about weekend lie-ins, it should not replace other healthy habits. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule remains important, and the findings do not suggest that physical activity or other preventative measures for high blood pressure should be neglected.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Guardian Health.
