People who enjoy a weekend lie-in could be onto something, as a new study found those who ‘catch up’ on lost sleep at weekends may potentially lower their risk of heart disease by up to 20%. Researchers examined data from more than 90,000 people in the UK, which suggested compensating for lack of sleep during the week with some extra time in bed at weekends could help mitigate the negative effects of sleep deprivation. The study, from the National Centre for Cardiovascular Disease at Fuwai Hospital, Beijing , found that sleep-deprived people with the most ‘catch-up’ sleep at weekends saw their risk of heart disease fall by a fifth, compared to those who had no extra shut-eye or slept even less at weekends.
But, we are often told that sticking to regular bedtime and waking routine is key when it comes to optimal sleep. So, is catching up on lost sleep at the weekend good for us after all? What are the positives and negatives of lie-ins? Having an extra few hours of slumber at the weekend after a tiring week might help improve your mood. “Although lie-ins are no substitute for good sleep hygiene, an extra hour or so will do you no harm, and may improve your mood,” says Theresa Schnorbach, psychologist and sleep scientist working with Emma – The Sleep Company.
Sleep is also vital for repairing our minds and bodies. “Sleep helps to refresh your body and recover from the day’s physical activity,” explains Schnorbach. “Sleep also impacts brain function.
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