Time ‘falling back’ could spike stress hormones, doctor says

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- It's that time of year to fall back and turn the clocks back an hour. Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday at 2 a.m. -- and with it comes possible impacts on your heart.

Dr. Jose Taveras said most health impacts related to Daylight Saving Time happen when the clocks "spring forward."

"It's not to say that this is not happening during the fall. It happens, but with just a minute amount," Dr. Taveras said. "What is most concerning is the changes that occur when the winter comes. There's more respiratory tract infections and so forth."

Beyond health, the time change may also interrupt your body's everyday schedule, including sleep habits. Dr. Taveras said the best schedule includes seven to nine hours of sleep a day.

When your body's sleep schedule changes abruptly, your body produces what Dr. Taveras called "stress hormones."

Cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Those affect the heart health directly. They increase your blood pressure; they increase your heart rate. If you have certain cardiac conditions such as hypertension or atrial fibrillation, they make it worse," he said.

With an increase in stress hormones, the body risks endothelial dysfunction. Dr. Taveras said the dysfunction brings more chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

"You, you have to train yourself. You have to be um mindful that there are things that disrupt your pattern of sleep that you can avoid," said Dr. Taveras.

He recommended practicing "sleep hygiene:" avoid sleeping with screens on so your brain can rest.

Compared to losing an hour of sleep during the spring time change, adjusting to Sunday's time change should be more manageable, according to the doctor.