Didn’t get enough sleep during the work week? You’re not alone.
Over 30% of Americans have an hour of sleep debt during the work week. That means they’re getting less than 7 hours of sleep a night.
Sleep debt is tied to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease and dementia.
A new study suggests that catching up on Zs during the weekend could help.
Researchers say people who sleep for at least an extra hour on the weekends have lower rates of cardiovascular disease.
The reduced risk is most significant for those who get less than 6 hours of sleep during the work week and sleep for at least an extra two hours during the weekends.
To help you overcome sleep deficits, experts suggest backtiming your bedtime. That means if you need to be up by 6 a.m., you’d want to be asleep by 11 p.m. to get at least 7 hours of sleep.
Other steps you can take include exercising, avoiding naps and foregoing coffee in the afternoon.