A new study suggests that getting one to two hours of extra sleep on weekends may help reduce the risk of high blood pressure among people who do not get enough sleep during the week.
Researchers from Seoul National University in South Korea analysed data from more than 40,000 people collected between 2016 and 2023. The study examined whether extending sleep during weekly days off was associated with changes in the risk of hypertension.
Extra Sleep Linked to Lower Risk
The researchers found that people who regularly experienced insufficient sleep on weekdays could potentially lower their risk of high blood pressure by getting additional sleep during their weekly break.
According to the findings, one to two hours of extra sleep was associated with a reduction of up to 6% in the risk of high blood pressure. Among people who did not exercise regularly, the reduction was reported to be as high as 6.9%.
The study also found that sleeping an additional one hour and 37 minutes was associated with a 9% lower risk.
However, the researchers noted that the reported benefit was linked specifically to around one to two hours of additional sleep, while longer periods did not show the same benefit in the study.
Why Sleep Matters for Blood Pressure
Health experts generally recommend maintaining consistent sleeping and waking schedules. However, the researchers said additional sleep during weekly days off could be helpful for people whose work or other commitments prevent them from getting adequate sleep throughout the week.
According to the study, insufficient sleep can increase stress on the body and place additional strain on the heart and blood vessels, potentially contributing to higher blood pressure.
High blood pressure is a major global health concern and can increase the risk of serious conditions including heart attack and stroke.
The findings were presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Cardiology.