Catch-up Sleep may reduce cardiovascular risk, says study
Can sleeping more on the weekend compensate for the lack of sleep during the week? According to a study recently published in the journal Sleep, the answer is yes — at least in part.
The study titled "Weekend Sleep Extension, Social Jetlag, and Coronary Artery Calcium Score Incidence: The ELSA-Brasil Study" indicated that this practice can indeed bring cardiovascular benefits.
A total of 1,832 participants were followed over five years, using wrist actigraphy — a test that records sleep and wake moments. Researchers also measured coronary artery calcium (CAC), an early marker of heart attack risk, at two different points in time.
The results were striking: those who slept little during the week but managed to compensate for this loss with about 90 extra minutes of sleep on the weekend had a 38% lower risk of calcification in the coronary arteries.
According to pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist Jessica Polese, this compensation is known as catch-up sleep and can be beneficial, especially for those facing dual work and study shifts. "It’s important because it shows that, in some cases, the body can benefit from extended sleep on weekends, reducing cardiovascular risks. It’s good news for those who, out of necessity, have difficulty sleeping well from Monday to Friday," says the doctor.
But the doctor warns that this practice should not be seen as a definitive solution. "The ideal continues to be maintaining a regular and quality sleep routine. Sleep is not just restorative — it regulates hormones, consolidates memory, and protects various organs. We still do not know, for example, if compensatory sleep protects the brain in the same way it protects the heart," highlights Jessica.
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