Monday after daylight savings time may cause heart attacks

Did you know that people tend to have more heart attacks on the Monday after Daylight Savings Time? According to a 2014 study published in the journal Open Heart, the number of heart attacks increased 24 percent on the Monday after daylight savings time, compared to the average number of heart attacks people had during the weeks around daylight savings time. During winter’s daylight savings time, we lose one hour of sleep.

According to a 2014 study published in the journal Open Heart, the number of heart attacks increased 24 percent on the Monday after daylight savings time, compared to the average number of heart attacks people had during the weeks around daylight savings time. During winter’s daylight savings time, we lose one hour of sleep.

Interestingly, the study also found that the number of heart attacks decreased by 21 percent during daylight savings time in the fall. This is when we gain one hour of sleep. Unfortunately, the study does not provide an explanation as to why there is such a significant change in the number of heart attacks during winter daylight savings time compared to fall daylight savings time.

The researcher do, however, believe the increase in heart attacks on the Monday after winter’s daylight savings time is related to losing that one hour of sleep. Losing sleep combined with stress could certainly cause a heart attack, especially in people who already have a higher risk of a heart attack. According to Live Science, “the hour change may disrupt circadian rhythms and interfere with cortisol levels, hormones that fluctuate throughout the day to help manage stress on the body, and increase blood sugar when sugar levels are low.”

Therefore, those at risk for a heart attack should be especially mindful. Who’s at risk for a heart attack? You are at risk if your lifestyle includes any of the following risk factors:

• Not physically active
• Unhealthy diet (high in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium)
• Smoking
• Overweight or obese
• High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, or high blood sugar (due to insulin resistance or diabetes)

These risk factors are ones that can be controlled and modified to live a healthier lifestyle. Other risk factors, such as age, family history, or preeclampsia (during pregnancy) are factors that cannot be controlled. Fortunately, after Monday, the increased risk for heart attacks decreases. But keep this in mind for next year!