Sleeping in on weekends might seem like a luxury, but new research suggests it could have life-saving benefits.
People who regularly enjoy lie-ins on Saturdays and Sundays are found to be 20% less likely to develop heart disease. The study, which tracked 90,903 adults in the UK for nearly 14 years, categorised participants based on the extra hours they spent sleeping on weekends compared to weekdays.
Those who enjoyed the most significant lie-ins—averaging over an hour of additional sleep on weekends—were 19% less likely to develop heart disease compared to those who did not sleep in at all. These findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in London.
Heart disease, affecting 7.6 million people in the UK, occurs when blood flow to the heart is disrupted, potentially leading to heart attacks and strokes. Researchers suggest that catching up on sleep over the weekend might help reduce inflammation and maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Professor James Leiper, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, noted, “Many people struggle with insufficient sleep due to work or family obligations. While a weekend lie-in is no substitute for regular, adequate sleep, this substantial study suggests it may help lower heart disease risk. We know that sleep deprivation impacts overall health, and this research underscores the importance of striving for at least seven hours of sleep each night.”
The study also found that the benefits of weekend sleep were most pronounced among those who were sleep-deprived during the week, defined as getting less than seven hours of sleep per night. This group experienced a 20% reduction in heart disease risk with weekend lie-ins. Conversely, individuals who woke up early on weekends—getting even less sleep than during weekdays—were at a higher risk of heart disease.
Experts believe that insufficient sleep can elevate inflammation, blood pressure, and stress hormones, contributing to long-term heart damage. With heart disease being one of the UK's leading causes of death, the study highlights the crucial role of adequate sleep in preventing cardiovascular issues.
