Making Up for Lost Sleep

On those nights when you have not gotten enough sleep due to work or play, it is possible to make up for that loss of rest by spending more time in bed in the following days. For years it had been commonly accepted that it was not possible to offset the negative effects of a long night with minimal sleep. But a recent study of more than 90,000 people in the UK suggests that compensating for lack of sleep can mitigate the negative effects of sleep deprivation. In addition, those who choose to “catch up” on lost sleep may potentially lower their risk of heart disease. Over a follow-up period of 14 years, they found that people with the most extra sleep were about 20% less likely to develop heart disease than those with the least amount of compensatory sleep. In a sub-group of people with daily sleep deprivation, those with the most compensatory sleep also had a 20% lower risk of developing heart disease. So, while it is recommended to get a healthy amount of sleep on a regular basis, it appears that making up for the lost hours can put you back on a healthy path.