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University of Michigan

Prepare for heart risk from 'spring forward'

Robin Erb
Detroit Free Press
For most of the U.S., clocks are moving forward — from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. — on Sunday, March 8, 2015.

DETROIT — Mondays are bad for your heart.

And particularly dangerous is the Monday coming up, according to a University of Michigan study.

In it, researchers found a surge in heart attacks — 25% more compared to other days — in the first full workday after the "spring-forward" time change.

Although precise reasons are tough to nail down, it seems clear that the hour of lost sleep during the switch to daylight saving time plays a role, said University of Michigan cardiologist Dr. Hitinder Gurm.

"The change we see is subtle, but we know when events happen that increase stress levels, heart attacks go up," said Gurm.

For most of the U.S., clocks are to be moved "forward" — from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. — Sunday morning.

Previous studies have suggested that Mondays generally are particularly problematic. Now add to that the loss of sleep and the disorientation as internal clocks try to match the real-life clocks we just changed.

Gurm's advice all year is particularly important Monday with the scramble not only to start another work week, but also to adjust to it with one hour less shut-eye.

"If you get chest tightness or indigestion that doesn't make sense, don't ignore it," Gurm said.

It's particularly important, too, for smokers and those with other risk factors for heart attacks — high blood-pressure, high cholesterol and those with family histories of heart problems.

Doctors have long known that sleep is linked to heart health and Mondays are troublesome.

The University of Michigan study, published last year in BMJ, formerly the British Medical Journal, drew on hospital data throughout Michigan in the time period between Jan. 1, 2010, and Sept. 15, 2013 — 1,354 days in all. It found an average of 31 cases of acute myocardial infarction each day in Michigan.

In this study, spikes were especially pronounced on the four Mondays after the spring-forward time changes. On average, there were eight more episodes on those four Mondays.

Nearly the opposite trend is true in the fall. Authors found about a 21% drop in the number of heart attacks on the Tuesday after the "fall-back" time change with the gain of an hour of sleep.

Gurm suggests gently resetting the body's wake-sleep patterns by backing up bedtime by 15 minutes each night.

He, too, keeps that in mind.

On the Monday after "spring-forward" weekend, he doesn't schedule patients until a half-hour later than normal.

Chest pain? Not sure what to do?

Call 9-1-1 if the answer is "yes" to any of these questions:

• Is the pain related to a physical activity or emotional/mental stress?

• Does the pain or pressure radiate to the left side, upper back, neck, jaw or left shoulder?

• Are you also sweating or have nausea or are lightheaded?

• Are you having difficulty breathing?

The 911 operator may suggest you chew one adult-strength or two to four low-dose aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself.

Other, milder symptoms can be warning signs for a future attack. You should see a health care professional to rule out a blockage in a coronary artery and other problems.

Those symptoms include chest pain or pressure that accompanies physical activity but subsides when you're at rest, and a feeling of diminished energy or shortness of breath during activities that previously had not caused problems.

Palpitations that occur only with physical activity or shortly after completing that activity.

For more information, visit www.umich.edu and search "signs of a heart attack."

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