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Did you know there’s a season, day of the week, and time of day when heart attacks most often occur? It’s true! In this post, we explore why researchers think early morning is the most common time to have a heart attack.
More people have heart attacks in the winter than in the summer. Monday is the most common day of the week for people to experience a heart attack. And your heart attack risk is highest the first three hours after you wake up.
The expert providers at all five Michigan locations of Heart & Vascular Institute have deep knowledge of cardiovascular disease. If you’re at increased risk, our team wants you to be aware of when you’re most likely to have a heart attack — and how to make one less likely.
The time of year
When it comes to the timing of heart attacks, researchers know that more heart attacks happen in the winter compared with other seasons. The time between Christmas and New Year’s is “heart attack season.”
The higher rate of heart attack in winter could be due to increased infections, stress on the heart associated with lower temperatures, or the psychological stress that can accompany the season. In any event, your risk is higher during the winter, especially in late December.
The day of the week
Heart attacks happen most often on Mondays. That’s true for men and women, but it’s not true globally. In the Middle East, more people suffer heart attacks on Fridays; in Japan, the weekends are more common.
Researchers theorize the Monday risk in the West could relate to the stress of the workweek.
The time of day
From 6am to noon, your heart attack risk is 40% higher than at other times of day; the risk is higher if you only consider the first three hours after you wake up. Researchers haven’t pinpointed an exact reason for this elevated morning risk, but they have several theories.
Your cardiovascular system and circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle) seem to change together. When you wake up, certain bodily functions require more oxygen than at other times.
However, your blood vessels constrict early in the day — which means your blood can’t deliver the oxygen your body needs when it needs it.
Also, when you first wake up, your blood is thicker than at other times. The chemicals your body produces to break up clots and thin the blood are less plentiful early in the day. That means it’s easier for your blood to clot and harder for your body to prevent the clotting.
If you have plaque buildup in your blood vessels, the combination of a lack of oxygen and a tendency of your blood to clot raises the possibility of a heart attack.
What you can do
First, understand your risk. Your family history, lifestyle, habits, age, and many other factors all come into play.
See one of the experts at any Heart & Vascular Institute location to better understand your risk profile and how you can lessen the chance of heart disease. Call us or book online today.