Daylight Saving Time Linked to Increase Risk of Stroke

The first two days after the daylight saving switch, the overall rate of ischemic stroke was 8% higher. After 2 days, the levels were back to normal.

Daylight saving time increases the risk of stroke, say Finnish researchers. The study found that the overall rate for stroke was 8% higher in the two days after daylight saving time.

Daylight saving time is the practice of advancing clocks during summer months by one hour so that in the evening daylight is experienced an hour longer.

Here's Why Stroke Victims Suffer From Spelling Impairment
Stroke victims with long-term memory difficulties cannot remember how to spell words they once knew and tend to make educated guesses.

‘Finnish researchers have found that changing the clock forward or back by an hour temporarily increases the risk of stroke. ’

Individuals with cancer were 25% more likely to have a stroke during that time, and people older than 65 were 20% more likely to have a stroke.

Despite the preliminary research, Cathy Sila, MD, Director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center says the association with daylight saving time and stroke is not necessarily a causation.

"If losing or gaining an hour of sleep here or there was a major stroke risk factor then people flying from Los Angeles to New York would be dropping like flies," says Dr. Sila.

Anti-Stroke Drug Reduces Mortality and Disability Risk of Intraventricular Hemorrhage
Intraventricular hemorrhage has an estimated mortality rate of 60 and 80 percent. Among those who survive, as many as 90 percent become severely disabled.

Rather than being concerned about an increased risk of stroke because of disruptions in a sleep cycle twice a year, Dr. Sila says people who have breathing related sleeping problems like sleep apnea should be discussing risk factors with their doctors.

According to Dr. Sila, risk factors for stroke include:

New Stroke Treatment Combines Injectable Clot-Busting Nanotherapeutic With Intra-Arterial Device
The new treatment has a lower risk microclot formation when compared to the currently used procedure - stent-retriever thrombectomy.

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
High blood sugars for people with diabetes
Smoking
Being overweight
Not exercising

Source-Newswise

Young African-Americans Often Underestimate Stroke Risk
One-third of strokes occur in people under the age of 65. Young African-Americans have a 50% higher chance of having a stroke than Caucasians of the same age.