Researcher time change causes high stroke risk

Time change to summer time increases the risk of ischemic strokes
Changing to summer time or winter time could increase our risk of stroke. Finnish researchers found that switching the clock twice a year is associated with a higher rate of ischemic strokes.

Ischemic strokes account for approximately 85 percent of all strokes. The physicians discovered in their recent research that the likelihood of such a stroke increases if we change our watches twice a year. Their findings have the scientists from the University of Turku at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. presented.

Changing the time between summer and winter time significantly increases the risk of stroke. (Image: psdesign1 / fotolia.com)

Rate of ischemic stroke increases due to time changes
If we sleep too little, it increases the risk of some diseases. Also, our risk of stroke increases when we sleep too little or too much, say doctors. The two-time changeover puts a strain on health and, according to the researchers, is associated with a higher rate of ischemic stroke and other problems. Time change affects our internal clock, which is why we sleep worse, explains lead author Dr. Jari Ruuskanen from the University of Turku. Ischemic strokes account for approximately 85 percent of all strokes and occur when a blood clot blocks our brain's oxygen supply, the experts report.

The scientists used ten years of research to determine the rate of strokes in Finland. About 3,000 subjects were examined in the week after the changeover to daylight saving time, with researchers comparing rates for strokes to data from nearly 12,000 patients admitted to hospital two weeks before the changeover.

Risk particularly high in the first two days after time change
The results in the first two days after the transition to summer time showed that the rate of ischemic stroke increased by eight percent. After another two days, these rates fell back to normal levels, explain the doctors. According to the scientists, people with cancer have a 25 percent higher risk of having a stroke after the time changeover. Just like people who are older than 65 years. In these, the risk increases by 20 percent to suffer a stroke n the two-day transitional period. Further studies need to be done to fully understand the relationship between these timing changes and the risk of stroke, and to find out if there are any ways to reduce the risk, adds dr. Ruuskanen added. (As)