A study published in the British Medical Journal reports hospitals take in 24 percent more heart attack patients the Monday following daylight saving time in the spring, than on a typical day.
Adversely, hospitals report a 21 percent decrease in heart attack intakes on the Monday following the fall daylight saving time change; when people gain an hour of sleep.
One Grand Strand doctor tells News13, heart attacks occur more frequently in the morning hours on a normal day due to the hormonal changes our bodies use to wake us up.
Doctor John Hicks explains, the interruption to our circadian rhythm, can imbalance hormones and shock the system in prone patients.
“If you were used to sleeping until six or seven o’ clock in the morning, and someone came in at five o’ clock and knocked on your door, what do you think would happen,” Doctor Hicks asked. “You would have an adrenaline rush; it’s a shock, not a huge shock, but it’s still a shock.”
