Wake-up call: How Daylight Saving Time affects heart health, sleep

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- If you're moving a little slower on Sunday, March 8, it might be because you lost an hour of sleep.

At 2 a.m. Sunday morning, Daylight Saving Time began, resulting in the clocks jumping forward an hour.

"If you think about how human bodies function, for the last millennium as natural time change happens, we probably tend to wake up with time when the sun rises," said Dr. Alexander Smolensky, medical director of cardiology, at Ascension Wisconsin.

While Daylight Saving Time allows us to spend more hours in the sun, Dr. Smolensky says it can take a toll on those with preexisting conditions.

"It's typically somebody who is in their 60s and 70s and older with multiple cardiovascular risks factors people with high blood pressure high cholesterol, people with heart conditions those with either blockages or Atrial fibrillation people with extra weight," said Dr. Smolensky.

For the last few years lawmakers and advocates have argued the loss of sleep during Daylight Saving is too disruptive, raising the risk of heart attacks, strokes and even car accidents.

Dr. Smolensky says more patients come in during this time of year.

"It's very difficult to truly quantify one physician but there are statistics that is truly the case," said Dr. Smolensky.

He says to help with the time transition, think about your sleep habits on a daily basis.

"It's about not drinking coffee in the afternoon, it's about not having one or two drinks and not right before you go to bed, it's about not having a clock that you can every time you open your eyes, it's about having a cooling down temperature in your bedroom," Dr. Smolensky explained.

Once you've primed your body for sleep, Dr. Smolensky suggests getting as much sleep as you can.

"Absolutely stay in your bedroom for an extra 20-30 minutes however when you wake up, step number one is not to check the news instead, go for a long walk around your neighborhood," said Dr. Smolensky.

Click here to learn more about the impacts Daylight Saving Time can impact your health