This weekend, most of us enjoyed an extra hour of sleep thanks to the end of Daylight Savings Time. I know for many people it was a much needed extra hour (perhaps to help recuperate from Halloween fun?). But recently published research shows that the extra hour of sleep may do more for our health than we know.
Two Swedish researchers who study sleep and heart disease found a 5% decline in heart attacks on the Monday after Daylight Savings Time ends – by looking at historical data on heart attacks in Sweden from 1987 to 2006. They found similar declines on other days of the week following the time change, but these changes were not significant. (By the way, the study authors said they expect similar results in other countries too.)
Doctors say they have long known that a good night’s sleep has positive effects on heart health, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and inflammation. And the research in this study suggests that this one hour of sleep may in some way be correlated with these extra heart benefits.
It’s important to note that this same study found that there is an opposite change following the start of Daylight Savings Time – there is about a 5% increase in heart attacks on the Monday following the spring time change. For this change, one sleep doctor recommends waking up 15 minutes earlier for a few days before the time change, to help the body adjust to the new schedule.
Time change or not, overall advice for a healthy heart remains the same – eat a healthy diet, exercise and don’t smoke.
Kerry
