The study found sleeping-in could reduce the risk of heart disease by 20% (Image: Getty) New research indicates that a weekend lie-in could significantly decrease the risk of suffering a fatal heart attack or stroke. A comprehensive study involving 90,903 Brits revealed that those who caught up on sleep during weekends were about 20% less likely to develop heart disease over a period of 14 years. Participants monitored their sleep using wearable devices, with findings showing that 20,000 individuals consistently failed to achieve the recommended seven hours of sleep per night.
The study found that those who managed to get an additional one hour and 17 minutes of sleep on weekends had a 20% lower chance of developing conditions such as ischaemic heart disease, heart failure , atrial fibrillation (AF), and stroke . This benefit was also observed in participants who generally slept more than seven hours on weekdays but extended their sleep over the weekend by at least one hour and 17 minutes. READ MORE: Doctor shares 5 signs of deadly syndrome that can lead to heart disease This benefit was also observed in participants who generally slept more than seven hours (Image: Getty) Prof James Leiper, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation , said: "Lots of us don't get enough sleep due to work or family commitments, and while a weekend lie-in is no replacement for a regular good night's rest, this large study suggests that it might help reduce risk of heart disease.
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