Sleeping in on weekends may reduce your heart disease risk

Struggling with sleep during weekdays due to hectic schedules is common for many people

A study suggests that sleeping in on weekends can help make up for lost sleep and significantly reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 20%

The study was conducted by researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease at Fuwai Hospital in Beijing

Using accelerometers to measure sleep patterns, the study analyzed data from 90,903 participants in the UK Biobank project

Participants who got less than 7 hours of sleep per night were classified as sleep-deprived, accounting for 218% of the sample.

The study found that those who compensated their sleep during weekends had lower rates of heart diseases such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke

Hospitalization records and death registry information were used to diagnose these cardiac conditions

The findings highlight the importance of compensatory sleep on weekends, especially for those who suffer from sleep deprivation during the week

The study acknowledges some limitations, such as occasional insufficient sleep not meeting the criteria for sleep deprivation

Overall, catching up on sleep during weekends is beneficial for cardiovascular health in modern society