Title: Study Finds Weekend Sleep Recovery Does Not Normalize Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Levels
Subtitle: Researchers at Penn State University reveal the long-lasting impact of sleep loss on cardiovascular health
COLLEGE STATE, Penn. – A new study conducted by researchers at Penn State University suggests that catching up on sleep over the weekend after experiencing sleep deprivation during the week does not fully restore normal heart rate and blood pressure levels. The findings, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, emphasize the long-term implications of inadequate sleep on cardiovascular health.
According to the researchers, restricting sleep to only five hours per night during the workweek significantly worsens cardiovascular health markers such as heart rate and blood pressure. “Only 65 percent of adults in the U.S. regularly sleep the recommended seven hours per night, and there’s a lot of evidence suggesting that this lack of sleep is associated with cardiovascular disease in the long term,” stated Anne-Marie Chang, co-author and associate professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State.
The study involved monitoring the sleep patterns of 15 healthy men, aged 20 to 35, over an 11-day period. During the initial three nights, participants were allowed to sleep up to 10 hours per night to establish a baseline sleep level. Subsequently, their sleep was restricted to five hours per night for five consecutive nights, followed by two recovery nights where they were once again allowed to sleep up to 10 hours per night.
To assess the impact of sleep recovery on cardiovascular health, researchers tracked participants’ resting heart rates and blood pressure every two hours throughout the day. The study found that each successive day of restricted sleep led to an increase of nearly one beat per minute (BPM) in heart rate. Additionally, systolic blood pressure rose by roughly 0.5 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) per day. By the end of the recovery period, participants’ heart rate had increased from an average baseline of 69 BPM to nearly 78 BPM, while systolic blood pressure rose from 116 mmHg to approximately 119.5 mmHg.
The study took into consideration the time of day when measuring cardiovascular health, as heart rate is typically lower upon waking and increases throughout the day. However, despite the additional opportunity for rest on the recovery days, heart rate and blood pressure did not return to baseline levels by the end of the study.
Lead author David Reichenberger highlighted the significance of the findings, stating, “So, despite having additional opportunity to rest, by the end of the weekend of the study, their cardiovascular systems still had not recovered.” Co-author Anne-Marie Chang added that longer periods of sleep recovery might be necessary to combat multiple consecutive nights of sleep loss.
The implications of sleep on overall health extend beyond cardiovascular well-being. Chang emphasized that sleep also affects weight management, mental health, focus, and interpersonal relationships. Understanding the importance of sleep and prioritizing a consistent sleep schedule can help promote long-term health and well-being.
In a society where sleep deprivation has become increasingly common, this study serves as a reminder of the critical role that sufficient and consistent sleep plays in maintaining optimal health. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying the impact of inadequate sleep on the cardiovascular system and to identify effective strategies to promote healthy sleep habits.