Daylight saving time linked to heart attack risk

The changing of the clocks in spring and autumn can have an effect on people's sleep patterns and it is thought that this could also be influencing the risk of heart disease.

Research based on heart attacks in Sweden found that as people suffer from sleep deprivation due to the move into daylight saving time, their chances of having a heart attack also increase.

Likewise, this risk was reduced in the autumn when clocks went back again and people gained an extra hour in bed.

Dr Imre Janszky of the Karolinska Institute and Dr Rickard Ljung of the National Board of Health and Welfare, said: "Our data suggests that vulnerable people might benefit from avoiding sudden changes in their biologic rhythms."

The research revealed that women were more prone to heart problems than men and it was more pronounced in those under the age of 65.

The day the clocks go back in the UK has now been re-named as National Sleep-In day, when people can enjoy an extra hour resting in their comfortable beds.

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