DAK More heart attacks and other problems after the time change

After the time change significantly more heart attacks
Next weekend is the time change to the summer time. In view of increasing knowledge about the negative health effects of the time change, however, the rejection in the population is growing. A recent representative survey by DAK-Gesundheit confirms this and shows that almost a third of Germans already had problems due to the time changeover in the past. According to the DAK statistics, "in the three days after the change to summer time, the number of heart attacks" increases.

Many people feel tired and tired in the first few days after the time change. Also sleep problems occur more often in the first days after the time change. The representative DAK health survey clearly shows that 29 percent of Germans have already experienced corresponding complaints as a result of the time change. This is five percent more than in the last survey in 2013, reports the DAK. Individuals were even significantly more severe health complaints as a result of the time change detectable. For example, the number of heart attacks will increase significantly in the first days after the time change.

In the population, in view of the difficulties that arise, he refuses to change the clock. (Image: Artenauta / fotolia.com)

Tired and tired after the time change
On behalf of the DAK, the Forsa Institute carried out the representative population survey with 1,001 respondents nationwide. In this report, 29 percent of participants stated that they had health problems due to the time change (compared to 24 percent in 2013). Also leads de Zeitumstellung with a large part of the Germans to make them feel tired and tired, reports the DAK-health. "81 percent have already experienced this," the health insurance company said. In addition, two-thirds of the respondents would suffer from falling asleep or sleep disorders and "in each case a good 40 percent can concentrate worse or are more irritated than usual," explains the DAK. Also, a quarter of respondents had come too late to work because of the time change. Last but not least, at least one-tenth of respondents call depressive moods as a result of he time change.

More heart attacks as a result of the time change?
Significant health risks associated with the changeover include, above all, the increased likelihood of a heart attack. Thus, the statistical analysis of the DAK health data showed that in the past ten years after the time change, the number of heart attacks was 20 percent higher than on other days. "While on average 45 people experience an acute heart attack on average every day, on the three days following the changeover to daylight saving time, 54", according to the DAK. Men and women are about the same affected.

Many Germans find the time change superfluous
In view of the proven (health) problems associated with the time change, the rejection is currently growing in the population. "74 percent consider the time change superfluous," reports the DAK. In 2013, 69 percent of respondents said so. The rejection of the time change also showed significant regional differences. "In East Germany, the time change has the least number of proponents, here they consider 80 percent superfluous," said the DAK. In general, many over the age of 60 would complain about problems with the time change (79 percent), while the under-30s have fewer difficulties with the time change (almost 60 percent complained about problems).

The DAK doctor Elisabeth Thomas emphasizes that "difficulties with the adjustment of the biorhythm to the summer time in recent years have become more in the focus of public attention" and thus these problems rather perceived and assigned to the time change. This is also a possible explanation for the increase in problems identified among respondents compared to 2013. The changeover to summer time, in which the clocks are presented for one hour, takes place on Easter Sunday at 2 o'clock in the morning. (Fp)