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Daylight Saving Time Could Have An Impact On Your Health

By Dr. Brian McDonough

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Forgetting about Daylight Saving Time and not shifting your clock might lead to a late arrival at church or a missed tee time, but according to a report in The American Journal of Cardiology, there could be a greater effect.

A study that was done in the March edition showed a small rise in heart attack rates the Sunday following the shift to Daylight Saving Time.

You lose an hour of sleep and it might not seem like much, but according to the study it can have an impact.

It's not the only study that has shown this. A 2012 University of Alabama study found that heart attacks increase by 10% on Monday and Tuesday following the shift to Daylight Saving Time. Back in 2008, a Swedish study found your chances having a heart attack increase in the first three weekdays following the switch to Daylight Saving Time.

Some people point to stress, while others point to an increase amount of inflammation. The bottom line, we're not really sure, but they are finding that there is a small increase.

It has also been shown people are less productive once Daylight Saving Time is implemented. That goes for an extended period of time, but in the short run there are plenty of health issues in addition to increased heart attack risk. For instance, traffic accidents increase 8% on the Monday following the change over to Daylight Saving Time.

It makes you want to go to bed an hour earlier.

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