Kathmandu— A new study presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Munich, Germany, has found a link between weekend lie-ins and a reduced risk of hypertension. The research, based on data from over 40,000 adults in South Korea studied from 2016 to 2023, indicates that catching up on sleep during weekends can lower the prevalence of high blood pressure by about 6 percent, with optimal benefits seen at an extra one hour and 37 minutes of sleep.

Study Details

The study examined how many additional hours participants slept over the weekend compared to weekdays. It found that moderate catch-up sleep—about one to two hours, with an optimal increase of about one hour and 37 minutes—was associated with a significant decrease in hypertension risk. The benefits were more pronounced for physically inactive individuals, who saw a 6.9 percent reduction in their chances of developing high blood pressure.

Broader Implications

High blood pressure affects approximately 1.4 billion adults worldwide aged between 30 and 79, accounting for about one-third of the global population in this age range, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO notes that hypertension is a major cause of premature death globally.

Expert Insights

Nawon Lee from Korea University in Seoul, who authored the study, explained that insufficient sleep places extra stress on the body and forces the heart and blood vessels to work harder, which can increase blood pressure. She advised against feeling guilty about sleeping longer during weekends if one has not had enough sleep during weekdays, suggesting it may be a way for the body to recover from sleep loss.

Previous Research

Other studies have supported similar claims. In 2019, researchers studied 36 adults and found that those who caught up on sleep over weekends saw some metabolic health improvements while sleeping more, but these benefits disappeared once they returned to short sleep patterns.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.