Our bodies are governed by an internal clock. These
circadian rhythms adjust our metabolism, make us sleepy, trigger digestive
system activities (we’ll just leave it at that) and play a huge role in our
secretion of hormones. When we get jet lag, we are feeling the effects of
messing with your circadian rhythms. Time change is a mini-jet lag experience
that most of us suffer, twice a year.
There have been several studies on the rate of car
accidents on the day following time change. They found that traffic accidents
increase 8% on the day following the time change. This might be a good day to
take the bus?
Your car might be easy to repair after a time
change-related accident, but your heart is a different matter. Since our
circadian rhythms drive changes to our blood pressure, heart rate and vascular
dilation, it makes sense that losing an hour of sleep might be bad for your
heart.
A study, reported in the prestigious New England Journal
of Medicine, studied this very matter. They found a 5% increase in heart
attacks immediately following the spring time change compared to the previous week.
Yes, a 5% increase, just because of a lost hour that doesn’t return until
autumn.
What can you do? Awareness is a good first step. Take
that first week a bit easier. Maybe the Monday after time change isn’t the best
time to start a new workout routine. Don’t schedule stressful events for
Monday, either. There’s no reason to go looking for heart trouble. Tuesday will
come soon enough.
Another approach that can help is to make the time change
more gradual. Maybe move your clocks up by 30 minutes Friday night and 30
minutes Saturday night. Obviously, this will make you march to a different drum
all day Saturday, but what is your heart worth, anyway?
So take it easy on yourself following the spring sleep
hijacking. Your heart will thank you!
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