The hidden danger of weekend sleep-ins
Weekends are all about relaxation, and for many, this means sleeping well beyond the usual wake up time. However, a new study has discovered that our Sunday lie-ins could be causing us much more damage than we thought.
The phenomenon, known as “social jet lag”, has been found to negatively affect overall health, energy levels and moods, as well as increasing your risk of heart disease by a staggering 11 per cent for each hour you sleep in longer than during the week.
“These results indicate that sleep regularity, beyond sleep duration alone, plays a significant role in our health,” sleep researcher Sierra Forbush from the University of Arizona concluded. “This suggests that a regular sleep schedule may be an effective, relatively simple, and inexpensive preventative treatment for heart disease as well as many other health problems.”
According to the Sleep Health Foundation, adults up to the age of 64 should aim for seven to nine hours. Any less than six or any more than 10 is not recommended. As for those over the age of 65, surprisingly, you can get by on a little less sleep. Seven to eight hours is the suggested goal, but it’s recommended not to exceed nine hours or sleep less than five hours per night.
To see our top tips for getting a good night’s sleep, click here. Tell us in the comments below, what never fails to help you nod off?