A recent study published in the journal Sleep Health suggests that catching up on sleep over the weekend could have a positive impact on cardiovascular health. Researchers from Nanjing Medical University in China examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included information from over 3,400 US adults aged 20 and older. The survey collected data on participants' sleep duration on both weekdays and weekends, as well as their history of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

The study found that individuals who slept at least one hour longer on weekends than weekdays had lower rates of cardiovascular disease, specifically stroke, coronary heart disease, and angina (chest pain due to reduced blood flow). This effect was most pronounced in individuals who slept less than six hours on weekdays and made up for it by sleeping at least two extra hours on weekends.

Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a medical contributor to Fox News, commented on the findings, stating that insufficient sleep increases the release of stress hormones and the risk of heart attack and stroke. He noted that the study suggests catch-up sleep can help reduce this risk, bringing it back to baseline.

Although the study is observational and not definitive proof, Dr. Siegel believes the findings are significant because additional sleep can lower metabolism and subsequently reduce risks. Fox News Digital reached out to the study author for further comment.

Biquan Luo, a sleep expert and CEO of LumosTech, a company that produces a smart sleep mask to promote healthy circadian rhythms, shared her reaction to the study. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a consistent sleep schedule under normal circumstances, as it supports circadian rhythms and overall cardiometabolic health. However, she noted that consistently lacking sufficient sleep can lead to chronic fatigue and increased risks of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. In these cases, catching up on sleep during the weekend can be more beneficial for one's health.

Luo also highlighted that making up for sleep debt does not fully reverse the effects of chronic sleep deprivation. The Sleep Research Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend adults to get at least seven hours of sleep per night. Insufficient sleep has previously been associated with a higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, high blood pressure, and other conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In conclusion, the study suggests that getting extra sleep on weekends may improve cardiovascular health, particularly for individuals who sleep less than six hours on weekdays. While further research is needed to confirm these findings, experts emphasize the importance of maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and obtaining sufficient sleep to reduce the risk of various health conditions.