Weekend Lie-Ins May Help Prevent High Blood Pressure, Research Finds

A modest weekend lie-in may be healthier than many people have been told. An analysis of 40,000 adults in South Korea found that people who slept longer on weekends had lower rates of high blood pressure, with the strongest association at 1 hour and 27 minutes of extra sleep.

Overall, weekend catch-up sleep was associated with a 6% reduction in the odds of hypertension. The association was slightly stronger among physically inactive people, whose odds were 6.9% lower when they slept longer on weekends.

The findings were presented in Munich at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology. Hypertension affects more than 1.3 billion people worldwide and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and premature death.

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Not getting enough sleep puts extra stress on the body. It keeps the heart and blood vessels working harder and can increase blood pressure.

Dr. Nawon Lee of Korea University said insufficient sleep places additional stress on the body, forcing the heart and blood vessels to work harder and potentially raising blood pressure. She said people should not feel lazy or guilty about sleeping somewhat longer after losing sleep during the week.

The findings did not support unlimited weekend sleep. People who slept more than four extra hours were at greater risk of hypertension. Experts still recommend keeping regular bedtimes and wake-up times, alongside physical activity, a healthy weight and a balanced diet.

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People should not feel lazy or guilty for sleeping a little longer on the weekend. If they have not been able to get enough sleep during the week, some extra sleep on the weekend may simply be the body’s way of recovering from that sleep loss.