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Health Tip: Daylight Savings Time May be Bad for Your Health

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Heart Attack related image Photo: Getty Images

With spring right around the corner, most of the U.S. will be turning the clocks forward one hour in the wee hours of Sun., March 14, 2011. Fast forwarding the clocks, or “springing forward” may increase production and help pull you out of your seasonal affective disorder funk, but it could also be a detriment to your heart health. An article found online stated studies have found heart attacks had "increased significantly for the first three-week days after the transition to daylight saving time in the spring."

The reason? Sleep deprivation. It can have an adverse effect on cardiovascular health, and disrupt chronobiologic rhythms.

So what should you do? Get more sleep! Try to go to bed a little early each night to get you accustomed to the later hour, or allow yourself a nap on Sunday to try to recoup from the hour lost overnight Saturday.

If neither of those options sound good to you, you may want to become a new observer of National Nap Day on Monday, March 15, 2011.

Do you have a question about Wellness and Heart Conditions? Check out EmpowHER’s pages. Sign-up, post a question, share your story, connect with other women in our groups and community, and feel EmpowHERed!

Resource:
Daylight Saving Time 2011- Ushering in Spring and Heart Attacks?
Fall Back: Turning Your Clocks Back May Help Your Heart

Christine Jeffries is a writer/editor for work and at heart, and lives in a home of testosterone with her husband and two sons. Christine is interested in women’s health and promoting strong women.

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Christine Jeffries
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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