Medical Experts Suggest Daylight Saving Time Could Have Negative Health Effects

Daylight Saving Time will be pushing clocks forward by one-hour beginning at 2 a.m. Sunday, but health experts say the time change can have a negative impact on your heart health.

A study from the American Heart Association shows a rise in irregular heartbeats after the one-hour difference.

Some Tulsans said the time change can be a nuisance.

"I don't like not getting the extra hour," Ruth said. "I like the fallback time where you get the extra hour of sleep."

Health experts said even an hour difference can mess up the body's circadian rhythm.

The study American Heart Association found that on the Monday to Thursday after the time change, there were 3.13 irregular heartbeat hospital admissions per day compared to the daily average of 2.56.

The study also found a 24 percent increase in daily heart attacks on the Monday after the time change.

St. Francis Cardiologist Dr. John Vann says this especially affects those with pre-existing conditions.

"What the data shows is that there is a risk for people who are already at risk, not day to day people," Vann said. "People that certainly have the cardiovascular disease already, they're at an increased risk of having an event that day."

But some are seeing daylight saving with a glass half full.

Anita Anthony said this time change might not be her cup of tea, but she is looking forward to more sun.

"I like the morning sun and so generally I like fall back a little more than I enjoy spring forward, but the evening side is great too and it means spring is just around the corner," Anthony said.

Dr. Vann says not to compensate with caffeine or taking a nap, as that can also do more harm than good for this time change.