Heart Attacks Increase During Daylight Savings Time

Heart attacks tend to increase after Daylight Savings Time.

FOX’s Alex Hein explains:

This is Housecall for Health. 

Sunday at 2 a.m. marked the start of Daylight Savings Time, but there are a few health risks to consider as we spring forward and lose that hour of sleep.

Many studies conducted over the last several years have shown that the rates of heart attacks increase in the few days following time change, which is due to our bodies having less time to recover from lost sleep. In addition, work place and motor vehicle accidents tend to spike up to a week following the change.

Daylight Savings Time can impact our circadian rhythms and can effect how much melatonin we produce. It’s essential to produce adequate levels of melatonin in our brains to help regulate sleep wake cycles.

The change in time can throw the system off and produce jet-lag like syndrome. The sun rising and setting can also play a role, making it harder to get to sleep and more difficult to wake up.

Exercise can help ward off symptoms as can eliminating alcohol or caffeine before bedtime. Avoiding screens before bed and melatonin supplements can also help you adjust. 

For more on this story, check foxnewshealth.com.

Housecall for Health, I’m Alex Hein, FOX News.