The key is knowing what’s causing the itch and choosing the right treatment for the job. Tp find out more, we asked the experts…
All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Martyn Jones.
A year after Bakani Pick-Up’s appointment as artistic director of National Dance Company Wales, his first season of programming launches with a touring double bill, Blue | Glas. He speaks here about Welsh creativity, cultural identity, breaking down barriers around dance and how movement can sometimes express more than words.
You’re stepping into one of the most influential roles in contemporary dance in Wales. Why did this feel like the right moment?
It’s an exciting time for the company and for dance generally. Organisations are asking what repertoire companies should look like today and how we reflect the contemporary world. NDCWales has always reshaped itself and taken creative risks. Our paths crossed at a point that felt right, and as an artist that makes it an ideal environment to work collaboratively.
What excites you about Wales creatively?
Wales has an abundance of creativity across music, opera, theatre and dance. I’m particularly fascinated by how different artforms come together and how Welsh multiculturalism exists within so much of the work being made, including through the Welsh language.
Being able to express my own Zimbabwean culture through my work is very special, so that intersection between cultural identity and art feels familiar and profound. We want young Welsh people to feel proud of where they come from, whether through our Young Associates programme, our work in Penrhys or our artistic collaborations.
What can audiences expect the Bakani Pick-Up era of NDCWales to look and feel like?
I’m drawn to artists who can articulate a feeling or experience that words can’t quite encapsulate – making the invisible visible. Our autumn tour, Blue | Glas, is a good indication. Theo Clinkard’s Ordinary Courage was originally created following the death of his mother and explores grief, loss, care and human connection. Although it was created 14 years ago, those themes remain incredibly present. We’ve also commissioned Alesandra Seutin, an influential voice in dance, to create Untamed. It takes the idea of running and asks: what are we running from, and what are we running towards – literally, socially and spiritually?
Contemporary dance can have a reputation for being inaccessible. How do you change that?
We’re constantly thinking about how to demystify it. We want people to have the confidence to experience dance in different ways, on and off stage. When I watch dance, I ask: “How did it make me feel?” Everyone can connect to that. Contemporary simply means “dance of the now”. At its best, it should leave you with something and offer another way of understanding universal experiences.
You’ve worked internationally. What has that taught you?
Working internationally has been a huge privilege, but I’m also an immigrant. What I’ve learnt about dance in the UK and internationally is very different from the world I grew up in, in Zimbabwe. I used to think dance was primarily a social activity. I’ve since learnt it can also be activism, wellbeing and philosophy. NDCWales has a long history of performing internationally and bringing international artists to Wales. We’re at our best when we listen, share and learn from what’s happening both locally and around the world.
How important is collaboration outside dance?
It’s essential. Contemporary dance is immersed in other artforms – costume, lighting, music, sculpture, fashion, electronic music, folk traditions and theatre. For Untamed, Alesandra and Randolph Matthews have collaborated with Welsh musician Sam Fox and local singers on a soundtrack rooted in the African diaspora while incorporating the Welsh language and the pibgorn, an ancient Welsh instrument. That exchange of cultures and disciplines is incredibly exciting.
How important is nurturing the next generation of Welsh dancers?
It’s a huge responsibility. One reason I wanted to work at NDCWales was because it doesn’t just think about now, but about the future. We want Welsh artists to be visible not only here but internationally. Through residencies, professional development, Young Associates and partnerships with organisations including National Youth Dance Wales and Ballet Cymru, we want young people across Wales to feel there is a route into dance.
If we spoke again in three years, what would tell you it was working?
Seeing more young people from diverse backgrounds joining our Young Associates programme would be one of the highlights. It would show that what we’re doing genuinely feels like it can be for anyone.
Finally, why should someone who has never seen NDCWales take a chance on Blue | Glas?
Because these works go where words can’t reach. Whether exploring loss or the urge to run, the dance speaks directly to the soul. You’ll see beautiful, powerful dance from extraordinary performers, hear incredible music and enter two visceral worlds through movement, lighting and costume. It offers something not just for the senses, but for the heart too.
Blue | Glas opens in Malvern on Fri 11 Sept, moves to Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre on Thurs 17 + Fri 18 then tours to London, Hereford, Newtown, Wolfsberg, Mold, Tewkesbury, Bangor and Bournemouth before closing in Aberystwyth on Wed 18 + Thurs 19 Nov.
Tickets: prices vary. Info: here
words ANTONIA LEVAY
The signs use digital and thermal camera technology, supported by artificial intelligence software, to identify speed
Artificial intelligence camera equipment is being rolled out in Swansea as part of a new road safety project(Image: Swansea Council)
Artificial intelligence camera equipment is being rolled out in Swansea as part of a new road safety project. Swansea council is installing 20 new rider feedback signs at key traffic locations where collision data, road layout and rider behaviour suggest motorcyclists may be at greater risk.
Sites include Carmarthen Road (Waun Wen), A483 Fforestfach (Pontarddulais Road), the B4560 Swansea Road (Llewitha) and Gorseinon Road (Penllergaer).
The signs use digital and thermal camera technology, supported by artificial intelligence software, to identify approaching motorcycles and display the rider’s speed in their natural line of sight.
If a motorcyclist is travelling within the speed limit, the sign displays the speed in green. If the rider is travelling above the limit, the display changes to red and is supported by bilingual ‘SLOW / ARAF’ messaging and amber flashing lights.
The technology is designed to encourage riders to make safer choices without taking their attention away from the road ahead. The roll-out of the project, supported by the Welsh Government, follows a successful trial at Carmarthen Road, Cwmdu, a location where two motorcycle fatalities have been recorded over the last 15 years.
The prototype was tested in real-world conditions with support from South Wales Police’s BikeSafe team and the council’s road safety and traffic teams. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here
Swansea council’s annual review of police collision data showed motorcycles were involved in nearly 16% of road collisions in Swansea in 2024.
That is higher than the Welsh national average of 12%, with 484 motorcycle casualties recorded out of 4,005 road casualties across Wales.
The new signs will be installed during 2026 at locations selected because of factors including historic motorcycle collision records, higher average speeds, popular rider routes and stretches of road where open layouts and forward visibility can encourage increased speeds.
Swansea council’s cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, councillor Andrew Stevens, said: “Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users and we want to do all we can to reduce the risk of serious collisions on Swansea’s roads.
“This new technology gives riders a clear, real-time reminder of their speed at locations where our road safety data tells us extra support is needed.
“It is not about enforcement; it is about using innovation to help riders make safer decisions and reduce the chance of a collision. The project also shows how partnership working between the council, South Wales Police, BikeSafe, Welsh Government and our supplier SWARCO can bring forward practical solutions that support safer roads for everyone.”
Get Swansea news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
I am always slightly sceptical when I read yet another headline telling us that one particular food is going to save our lives and help us live for ever in perfect health.
Turkmenistan has started plugging the mega-leaks of methane that spew from its ageing oil and gas facilities, the latest UN data shows, in a move hailed as a breakthrough.
Methane, also called natural or fossil gas, is a potent greenhouse gas. It traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide and causes 25% of global heating today. Stopping leaks can be quick and cheap and, because methane breaks down in the atmosphere far quicker than CO2, this has a rapid impact, with some experts calling it the climate “emergency brake”.
The Guardian revealed in 2023 that Turkmenistan was the worst country for methane mega-leaks. Sources in Turkmenistan said this scrutiny was the “critical step” in leading the secretive and authoritarian government to engage with foreign partners.
A “super-emitter” leak, the escape of tonnes of methane per hour from a single valve or pipeline, heats the planet more than the emissions from a million SUVs or an entire coal-fired power station.
Turkmenistan had now stopped eight leaks by repairing corroded pipes, faulty wells and failing flares. The work was an “incredible first step”, said the UN, but much remained to be done.
The UN Methane Alert and Response System (Mars) sent 192 alerts of methane plumes to Turkmenistan in the last year. The country had three of the six worst leaks detected in the world by Mars in last six months, and nine of the top 50.
Turkmenistan responded to about 20% of the alerts with on-the-ground information about the leaks and potential plans to fix them. In contrast, the US was sent the second highest number of alerts – 138 – but responded to none and had fixed no leaks in the last year. Other nations that failed to respond to any alerts were Iran, Russia and China.
The worst methane leak detected was an extraordinary leak in Mexico’s offshore oil and gas industry of 37 tonnes per hour, equivalent to the emissions of more than 7m SUVs. Mexico responded to all 23 Mars alerts in the last year, but had yet to complete a fix.
The plugging of leaks in Turkmenistan was encouraging, said Meghan Demeter, the programme manager of Mars, which is part of the UN Environment Programme. “These mitigation cases are a proof point of what can be done with satellite data, especially in situations like Turkmenistan, where there are a lot of detections. We’re seeing that the pipeline of satellite data to mitigation action works, and it can work quite quickly.”
“This is a breakthrough in terms of having real documented mitigation action,” she told the Guardian. “But it is not yet a breakthrough in the overall magnitude of emissions. Eight cases is an incredible first step, but there’s also a lot more sources in Turkmenistan that need to be addressed. We are in pretty constant communication and the response rate is growing month by month. We’re seeing steady progress.”
In March 2023, the Guardian revealed Turkmenistan had the most super-emitting methane leaks in the world. It then revealed in May that the methane emissions alone from the nation’s two main fossil fuel fields caused more global heating in 2022 than the entire carbon emissions of the UK, which experts described as both “mind-boggling” and “infuriating”.
The findings caused a furore in Turkmenistan, prompting the government to engage with the UN, the EU and other nations and institutions to try to end the leaks, according to sources in the capital, Ashgabat. In December 2023, Turkmenistan joined the global methane pledge, two years after it had launched.
Turkmenistan has huge gas reserves and is a major supplier to China. Previously, leaks were ignored due to the enormous volumes on tap. But in November 2024, the first leak was fixed after a faulty well was repaired. The most recent repair, in March, was to a corroded pipeline. Turkmenistan’s ministry of foreign affairs and state companies Turkmenoil and Turkmengaz did not respond to a request for comment.
The most recent Mars data shows Kazakhstan, another former Soviet republic with ageing oil and gas infrastructure, has stopped eight leaks. However, the overall number of leaks in Kazakhstan is smaller, with 38 Mars alerts in the last year.
In total, Mars alerts have led to 43 leaks being sealed so far. Many have been straightforward fixes, with leaks plugged on the spot, while others required more planning and funding. One major leak now stemmed in Algeria had been running for almost 40 years, due to a faulty flare. Flares burn unwanted methane and turn it into CO2, a much less potent greenhouse gas.
after newsletter promotion
The previous US administration, under President Joe Biden, did engage with Mars and one small leak in New Mexico was fixed in 2024 after a pressure safety valve was repaired. But this engagement ended with the second presidency of Donald Trump. Last year, Trump called climate change “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” at the UN general assembly.
Mexico, Brazil and Argentina have 100% response rates to Mars alerts, while Libya and Azerbaijan have high response rates.
“Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan are home to some of the world’s most significant methane hotspots and their response to satellite alerts is much-needed good news in the global effort to minimise methane pollution,” said Dan Grossman, the vice-president at the Environmental Defense Fund.
“Stemming methane emissions from oil and gas operations is the quickest and most cost-effective method to reduce climate pollution available today,” he said. “Alerts only matter if they lead to action, and governments and industry must do a better job.”
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, has called for all countries to respond to 80% of alerts.
Demeter said: “We’re scaling up a lot in terms of the support that we can offer – knowledge building and technical support – and we are working alongside many partners. There are also a lot of requests for funding for direct mitigation.”
The Mars system uses artificial intelligence to analyse data from more than a dozen satellites and detect potential leaks, which are then checked by two layers of review by analysts. Verified leaks are then notified to the relevant government or company. Responses are recorded if they report on-the-ground information and an intention to plug the leak. If a leak is reported as fixed, Mars monitors the site until the data shows emissions have ended before recording it as a success.
The Guardian’s climate forum 2026
On Tuesday 20 October, join Damian Carrington and our panel of experts, including Prof Andy Haines, Katie White MP, Asad Rehman, Shruti Suresh Gareth Thomas and Amy Fairman, for a hopeful and solutions-focused evening. Book tickets here or at guardian.live
The companies have confirmed the list of locations.
All restaurants are closing in September(Image: LordHenriVoton/Getty)
The UK high street faces further upheaval this September as numerous businesses prepare to close their doors. More than 100 locations have confirmed closure dates.
It has been a challenging period for firms within the retail and hospitality industries as costs increase and consumer behaviour changes. Stationery retailer TG Jones, which took over from WH Smith, is preparing to shut 19 branches throughout September.
Additionally, Beefeater is closing 106 restaurants, while Brewers Fayre is shutting 89 establishments.
TG Jones
The stationery chain is closing 19 outlets during the month, accompanied by a clearance sale. Closing-down sales have launched in-store, offering customers discounts of up to 30%.
Closures will take place throughout September, beginning with Bath on Tuesday, September 1. The Redcar and Redhill branches will shut on September 5, followed the next week by Market Harborough and Uckfield.
Mid-month closures include Cambridge, Deal, Swindon, Helston and Basildon, while dates for Cardigan and Wells remain to be confirmed.
Last year, numerous WH Smith outlets were rebranded as TG Jones. On July 1, a company-wide restructuring was announced, placing approximately 150 stores at risk of closure.
Stores closing in September:
- Bath – Tuesday, September 1
- Redcar – Saturday, September 5
- Redhill – Saturday, September 5
- Market Harborough – Saturday, September 12
- Uckfield – Saturday, September 12
- Cambridge – Monday, September 14
- Swindon – Tuesday, September 15
- Helston – Wednesday, September 16
- Deal – Saturday, September 19
- Basildon – Monday, September 21
- Rustington – Wednesday, September 23
- Clevedon – Saturday, September 26
- Greenford – Saturday, September 26
- Kenilworth – Saturday, September 26
- Southend-on-Sea, Saturday, September 26
- Exmouth – Monday, September 28
- Frome – Wednesday, September 30
- Cardigan – TBC
- Wells – TBC
Beefeater and Brewers Fayre
All 106 Beefeater restaurants are scheduled to close on Thursday, September 10, with 89 Brewers Fayre pubs shutting on Monday, September 7. This follows Whitbread’s announcement in April that both Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants, operated by the company which also runs the Premier Inn hotel chain, would be shutting down.
Approximately 30,000 employees are currently employed across the restaurant brands. At the time, Whitbread’s chief executive Dominic Paul explained: “We plan to convert all our remaining branded restaurants to an integrated food and beverage offer that is preferred by our hotel guests and will unlock the addition of more highly profitable extension rooms.
“Our continued efforts to drive our commercial plan and efficiencies will extend our market-leading position and allow us to take share from our competitors, many of which are struggling to grow.”
Beefeater closures on September 10:
- The Anchor (Lincolnshire)
- The Applecart (Oxford)
- Badgers Sett (Worcestershire)
- Bagle Brook (Port Talbot)
- Balmoral Inn (Hampshire)
- The Barn (Buckinghamshire)
- The Beacon (Kent)
- The Belgrave (Devon)
- Bentley Green (West Midlands)
- Border Gate (Cumbria)
- The Brache (Bedfordshire)
- The Brecks (South Yorkshire)
- Broomside Park (County Durham)
- The Bull (Kent)
- Carnon Inn (Cornwall)
- Centre (Dundee)
- The Coldra (Newport)
- Countess Wear (Devon)
- The Cricketers (Surrey)
- Crossbush (Sussex)
- Crows Nest (Hertfordshire)
- Deer Park (West Lothian)
- The Dukes Worksop (Nottingham)
- Eureka Park (Kent)
- Euston Way (Shropshire)
- The Farmhouse (Cheshire)
- Farnborough (Hampshire)
- The Fountain (Twickenham, London)
- The Foxburrow (Suffolk)
- Frome Flyer (Bristol)
- George In The Tree (West Midlands)
- The Gifford (Bristol)
- Gourdie Croft (Dundee)
- The Granary (Cambridgeshire)
- Great Oak (Hampshire)
- Great Yarmouth Seafront (Norfolk)
- Griff House (Warwickshire)
- Halfway House (Bedfordshire)
- Halifax (West Yorkshire)
- Hamilton (Glasgow)
- Harbour Lights (Hampshire)
- Harlow Mill (Essex)
- The Haywain (Essex)
- Heaton Park (Lancashire)
- The Kingswood (East Yorkshire)
- Lady Nairne (Edinburgh)
- The Ladybridge (Staffordshire)
- The Lakeside (South Yorkshire)
- Liberty Bell (Essex)
- London Woolwich (Woolwich, London)
- The Longbow (Rhondda Cynon Taff)
- Longbridge (West Midlands)
- Longford House (Staffordshire)
- The Longwall (Oxford)
- The Lydiard (Wiltshire)
- Malta Inn (Kent)
- Manor Farm (Kent)
- Marsh Mills (Devon)
- Medina Quay (Isle of Wight)
- Mill House (Surrey)
- Mill Lodge (Lincolnshire)
- Millers Barn (Nottingham)
- The Millfield (York)
- Moor Mill (Hertfordshire)
- Morris Dancers (Lancashire)
- Morton Park (County Durham)
- Moseley Park (West Midlands)
- Oakley Hay (Northamptonshire)
- Oast & Squire (Hampshire)
- The Orchard (Worcestershire)
- Oxford Kidlington (Oxford)
- Oyster Reach (Suffolk)
- Packet Steamer (Merseyside)
- The Parkway (Surrey)
- The Pavilion (Somerset)
- The Plough (Kent)
- Preston Brook (Merseyside)
- Priory Marina (Bedfordshire)
- Quay House (Lancashire)
- Rackstraws Farm (Berkshire)
- Red Lion (Lancashire)
- Redditch (West Midlands)
- Roman Way (Nottingham)
- Sir Thomas Wyatt (Kent)
- Smugglers Haunt (Dorset)
- The Somerford (Dorset)
- The Southcote (Berkshire)
- Springwood Park (Cheshire)
- Spruce Goose (Hampshire)
- Stag & Rainbow (Merseyside)
- Strawberry Field (Essex)
- The Talpore (County Durham)
- The Three Fish (Shropshire)
- Travellers Rest (Harrow, Middlesex)
- The Turnpike (Northamptonshire)
- Twelve Bells (Gloucestershire)
- Walston Castle (Cardiff)
- Ware (Hertfordshire)
- The Waterfront (Swansea)
- The Watermill (Essex)
- White Hart (Sussex)
- White Lodge (Somerset)
- White Rock (Devon)
- Whitegate Inn (Lancashire)
- Whitley Bay (Northumberland)
- The Woolpack (Kent)
Brewers Fayre closures on September 7:
- Abergavenny (Abergavenny)
- Afon Conwy (Conwy)
- Aire & Calder (Yorkshire)
- Bankhead Gate (Fife)
- Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria)
- Barry Island (Vale of Glamorgan)
- Bedford South (Bedfordshire)
- Bicester (Oxfordshire)
- Bideford (Devon)
- Bobbing Apple (Kent)
- Brampton Hut (Cambridgeshire)
- Brookers Oast (Kent)
- Burton House (Lincolnshire)
- The Carousel (Yorkshire)
- Castlewood (Derbyshire)
- Central Park (Warwickshire)
- Cepen Park (Wiltshire)
- Chafford Hundred (Essex)
- Chequers Corner (Essex)
- Cheswold Lodge (Yorkshire)
- The Clarence Pier (Hampshire)
- Cockermouth (Cumbria)
- Cottams Field (Lancashire)
- Craig House (Edinburgh)
- Crossways (Caerphilly)
- Dalesway (Yorkshire)
- Derry City (Northern Ireland)
- The Drove (Sussex)
- Duke of York (Kent)
- Exeter (Devon)
- The Farrier (Lincolnshire)
- Flagstaff Island (Leicestershire)
- Freebridge Farm (Norfolk)
- Glastonbury (Somerset)
- Gordano Gate (Bristol)
- The Hampton (Peterborough)
- Hanley (Staffordshire)
- The Harbour (Northern Ireland)
- The Howgate (Cumbria)
- Inn On The Quay (Devon)
- Inshes Gate (Highland)
- Kembrey Inn (Wiltshire)
- Kincardine Way (Falkirk)
- King William IV (Nottinghamshire)
- Lakeland Gate (Cumbria)
- Lewins Mead (Bristol)
- Lock Keeper (Derbyshire)
- Lodmoor (Dorset)
- Loggans Moor (Cornwall)
- Mains of Balquharn (Aberdeenshire)
- The Marina (Leicestershire)
- The Mayflower (Essex)
- Minehead (Somerset)
- Monkey Puzzle (Hampshire)
- Mulberry Tree (Essex)
- Newhaven Quay (Edinburgh)
- Oakenhurst Farm (Lancashire)
- Oaks (Norfolk)
- Ocean Park (Cardiff)
- Ocean Plaza (Merseyside)
- Old Nelson (Gloucestershire)
- Old West Quay (County Durham)
- Orbital (Staffordshire)
- Papermill (Buckinghamshire)
- Pirnhall Inn (Stirlingshire)
- Queens Crossing (Edinburgh)
- The Redwood (Staffordshire)
- Rhubarb Triangle (Yorkshire)
- Rising Sun (Hertfordshire)
- Royal Quays (Newcastle)
- The Sandpiper (Carmarthenshire)
- Stable Gate (Lancashire)
- The Swallow (Suffolk)
- Swansea Vale (Swansea)
- Telford Lodge (Northamptonshire)
- Tindale Crossing (County Durham)
- Tirfounder Fields (Rhondda Cynon Taff)
- Turnpike (Yorkshire)
- Victoria Park (Gwent)
- Walsall (West Midlands)
- Water Mill (Yorkshire)
- The Wessex Flyer (Bristol)
- The Wessington (Sunderland)
- Wheatlea Park (Lancashire)
- Whittle Inn (Gloucestershire)
- Widnes (Cheshire)
- Willen Dragon (Buckinghamshire)
- The Windmill (Sussex)
- Winsor House (Beckton, London)
A Yorkshire man has warned ADHD sufferers of the risks of a commonly-taken treatment for the disorder – after the tablets made him ‘violently sick’.
The finger-prick blood test, which takes just seven minutes to complete, will be rolled out at around 100 pharmacies this autumn.
The 764-pipe organ in the historic Capel Rhondda came under threat when the church was put up for sale last year.
But villagers pulled out all the stops to buy the property after raising £47,500 in just two weeks – and the price tag included the organ.
Composer John Hughes wrote the well-known hymn ‘Cwm Rhondda’ for an anniversary service at the chapel in Hopkinstown, South Wales, in1907.
It is better known as “Bread of Heaven” sung at rugby matches, pubs and funeral services for generations.
The organ fell into disrepair after not being played for the last 20 years but is set to be fully restored for the hymn’s 120-year anniversary next year.
Campaigner Rhian Hopkins, who grew up in the village, said a team of volunteers will now replace all of the Blackett & Howden organ pipes.
She said: “The organ had been completely unplayable, we think, for nearly two decades.
“We have been told that repairs were carried out on the organ nearly 20 years ago and it hasn’t worked properly since.”
The charity Pipe Up for Pipe Organs is carrying out the restoration at the Grade II listed church.
Charity co-founder Martin Renshaw said: “It’s not been cleaned for 60 or 70 years there’s a lot of stuff in the pipes.
“There’s coal dust, there’s brick dust, there’s white wash off the walls but that’s normal for an organ of this age and we have started in the cleanest bit which has been in a box and the pipe work isn’t too bad but the rest is pretty bad.
“I work on historic organs from 18th Century in historic places but they’re not that many historic 20th Century organs, so its wonderful to work on.”
Organ builder Kingsley Robinson said the work has been “tricky” – but he has fixed the faulty mechanics to play Cwm Rhondda.
He said: “It’s because it’s very compact because it’s fitted into the back wall of the chapel and there’s no organ chamber behind it so everything is quite tight to work on and hard to get to on this organ.
“The blower on this organ, which basically provides the wind to make the pipes sound, was spinning in the wrong direction.
“But now that has been resolved and its back to spinning in the right direction the majority of the keys work too but we will need to replace some switches which can be challenging.”
The final service at the chapel was held in December 2024 before it was put up for sale by the Baptist Union of Wales.
Villagers wanted the property to remain a community space and went on to raise the cash to buy it.
The BUW said it was “deeply moved by the extraordinary response to the campaign”.
Blood pressure can be lowered with a simple trick (Image: Getty)
Weekend lie-ins could protect against high blood pressure, new research suggests. Scientists say people should not feel guilty about sleeping in at the weekend as it could be the body’s way of recovering.
A seven-year study of 41,000 adults found people who slept in late at the weekend were less likely to have high blood pressure. Analysis identified the perfect amount of catch-up sleep – with a one-hour and 27-minute lie-in resulting in the most benefit. Someone getting this amount of extra sleep would be 9% less likely to have high blood pressure.
Study author Dr Nawon Lee, of Korea University in Seoul, said: “Not getting enough sleep puts extra stress on the body. 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. People should not feel lazy or guilty for sleeping a little longer on the weekend. If they have not been able to get enough sleep during the week, some extra sleep on the weekend may simply be the body’s way of recovering from that sleep loss.”
Adding 90 minutes to a lie-in can reduce blood pressure (Image: Getty)
The average British adult gets between 6 and 6.4 hours of sleep per night – below the recommended seven to nine hours. Not getting enough sleep is known to prevent blood pressure from dropping at night, which increases the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Officially known as hypertension, it is referred to in medical circles as the “silent killer” because it is often symptomless despite increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Around one in three UK adults – or 13 million people – have hypertension but many are unaware.
Previous research had stressed the importance of having a regular bedtime and wake-up time and many experts dismissed the idea that you should catch up on missed sleep at the weekend.
However, the new research presented at the European Society of Cardiology showed that getting some catch-up sleep could boost heart health – but getting too much could still be harmful. People getting over four hours extra sleep at the weekend were at greater risk of hypertension.
Dr Lee added: “I think moderate weekend catch-up sleep may have a protective effect because, in people who are sleep-deprived during the week, the benefit of compensating for insufficient sleep may outweigh the potential harm from having an irregular sleep schedule.
“However when weekend catch-up sleep becomes excessive, the degree of sleep irregularity and circadian disruption may increase, which could offset that benefit.”
She added: “Keeping a regular sleep schedule is still important, but getting a moderate amount of catch-up sleep may be beneficial rather than something to feel bad about.”
Study participants who had any duration of catch-up sleep at the weekend were 6% less likely to have high blood pressure on average.
A greater benefit of weekend catch up sleep was seen in people who didn’t get enough exercise and were considered to be physically inactive. They were 6.9% less likely to have hypertension if they had weekend lie-ins.
Participants were deemed inactive if they did not get the World Health Organization’s weekly recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes vigorous exercise, or a combination of both.
