Melvin Durai
Scientific studies are among my favourite things to read. Let me be more precise: I like reading about scientific studies that make me feel good about my bad habits. I love scientists who say to themselves: “What poor habits do people have? Let me find a reason to make these habits seem not so bad.” One of the most common bad habits that people have is sleeping in on weekends (or on their days off from work). Many young people are out partying on Friday or Saturday nights, then find themselves sleeping past noon the following day, sometimes in their own beds. But it’s not just partying that causes people to sleep in on weekends — sometimes it’s studying or working or binge-watching a TV show. Sleeping in on weekends is a way of catching up on the sleep they’ve missed during the week. I certainly do this — and I’m no party animal. I just don’t get enough sleep on weekdays, so I sometimes awaken at 10 am on Saturdays, which my college-age daughter would describe as “TOO EARLY!” I’ve often felt guilty about getting a few extra hours of sleep, especially since I know that some ultra-disciplined people are strict about their bedtime hours, shutting their eyes at exactly 10 pm and opening them at 6 am, and not a minute later.
Sleep experts recommend sticking to a consistent schedule that does not disrupt the body’s internal clock. But I was pleased to come across an Al Jazeera article with this headline: “Sleeping in on weekends is good for the heart: What research has shown.” Good for the heart? That’s it, I thought, from now on, I’ll sleep in until dinner time. Breakfast and lunch aren’t as important as strengthening my heart. According to the article, a study led by Dr. Nawon Lee of Korea University in Seoul has found that catching up on sleep on weekends can lower our risk of high blood pressure. The findings, presented recently at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Munich, Germany, were based on a seven-year study of 40,727 adults in South Korea. Speaking to the media, Lee said this: “Melvin should not feel lazy or guilty for sleeping a little longer on the weekend.” No, she didn’t actually use my name. Instead, she used the word “people,” which includes me and millions of other slouches. “Not getting enough sleep puts extra stress on the body,” she said. “It keeps the heart and blood vessels working harder and can increase blood pressure. Getting some extra sleep on the weekend may give the body a chance to recover and reduce some of that stress.” The study found that people who slept in on weekends were up to 9% less likely to have hypertension. I was pleased to hear that, but I was also hoping to hear that the longer I slept in, the more I benefited.
Instead, the researchers found that the ideal amount of extra sleep is one hour and 27 minutes. Getting more than four hours of extra sleep can actually increase your blood pressure, they say. Nevertheless, I welcome the findings and hope to see headlines like these in the near future:
1. “Watching Sports Lowers Risk of Heart Disease, Latest Research Shows.”
2. “Walking as Effective as Running for Cardiovascular Fitness, Study Finds.”
3. “Study Validates Popular Weight-Loss Strategy: Eating More Chicken Biryani.”
4. “Study Reveals Which Employees are Most Productive: Those who Nap at Work, Those who Yap at Work.”
5. “Drinking Wine Lowers Risk for Diabetes, Research Shows.”
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