LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Most Americans will lose an hour of sleep this weekend as daylight saving time begins, and Dr. Saul Rios, a cardiologist at Arkansas Heart Hospital, says the shift can do more than leave people groggy — it can briefly strain the heart, especially for those with existing cardiac conditions.
Dr. Rios said moving the clock forward by one hour “may not seem like a big change,” but the loss of sleep and disruption to the body’s internal clock can increase stress on the cardiovascular system. He said that stress can trigger the release of cortisol, a hormone that can raise risk for some people.
“In folks with pre existing cardiac conditions that can pose an increased risk for heart attacks and for arrhythmias,” Rios said. He also pointed to statistics showing an increase in heart attacks the day after daylight saving time begins, saying it “can be as high as 5% more than other days,” and noted research indicating a similar increase in arrhythmias…