For those who regularly experience sleep deprivation, compensatory sleep may not be a sustainable strategy, according to some specialists.
According to a recent study, “catching up” on sleep over the weekend may lower the risk of heart disease by 20%. Less than seven hours of sleep every night is commonly referred to as sleep deprivation.
And lack of quality sleep can cause a number of health problems, including cardiovascular problems.
The study authors discovered that individuals with the highest compensatory sleep scores had a 19% lower risk of developing heart disease compared to those with the lowest scores, based on an analysis of hospital records and death registries. The median follow-up for the participants in this project was 14 years.
In depth
This study highlights our bodies’ amazing ability to recover energy and function, even following periods of sleep deprivation. Although there is evidence between heart health and sleep, the extent and timing of the benefit observed in this study are remarkable. It emphasises even more how crucial it is to prioritise getting enough sleep, even if it means rearranging your weekend plans.
A few extra hours of sleep won’t immediately cure the imbalances in your metabolism, the accumulation of stress hormones, or the increase in inflammation that results from persistent sleep deprivation. This study also implies that over time, this may lead to major health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Instead of “banking” on being able to make up for it with naps or longer sleep on the weekends, it’s imperative to keep a regular sleep pattern and prioritise sleep quality as much as quantity from the standpoint of functional health. Consider sleep as the cornerstone upon which everything else you do for your health, including stress reduction, exercise, and diet, is built. After a challenging week, you can somewhat recover, but the best course of action is to prevent sleep debt in the first place by establishing regular, high-quality sleep as an essential component of your daily schedule.
Take away
Sleep has an impact on blood pressure, blood sugar regulation, inflammation control, and heart vessel healing and rebuilding. The risk of cardiovascular disease may rise with insufficient sleep.
Lack of sleep can increase stress chemicals like cortisol, which can worsen heart conditions. Regaining sleep can assist in reducing these levels. Severe sleep deprivation can also cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. These vital indicators can return to normal with compensatory sleep.
A strong immune system is also believed to depend on getting enough sleep. Your body can fight off infections and inflammation—which are connected to heart disease—better when you get enough sleep.
