What time of day is a heart attack most likely to happen? “Most heart attacks hit during the early morning hours from 4 – 10 am when blood platelets are stickier, and there is increased adrenaline released from the adrenal glands that can trigger rupture of plaques in coronary arteries,” said Dr.
The cardiologists said studies have shown that heart attacks occur more in the early hours of the morning, noting that ensuring good blood pressure control at night and early in the morning could help prevent it.
Researchers found that at around 6:30 a.m. the circadian system sends out an increased amount of PAI-1 cells which blocks blood clots from breaking down. The more PAI-1 cells in the blood, the higher the risk for a blood clot that leads to a heart attack.
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint. You may also break out into a cold sweat.
Getting Out of Bed in the Morning
Heart attacks are more common in the morning. Your brain floods your body with hormones to help you wake up, and that puts some extra stress on your heart. You may also be dehydrated after a long sleep, which can make your heart work harder, too.
After tracking more than 3,000 subjects for an average of 5.7 years, researchers found the lowest incidence of cardiovascular disease among those who nodded off between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. The worst results were for those who stayed awake past midnight; they had a 25% higher risk of heart disease.
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that comes on quickly and won't go away with rest. - Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. - Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
“The circadian system releases more PAI-1 cells in the morning, which prevent blood clots from breaking down. The greater the number of PAI-1 cells in the blood, the greater the chance of a blood clot leading to a heart attack or cardiac arrest,” he explained further.
India accounts for at least one-fifth of the 17.9 million cardiovascular disease-related deaths globally, especially in the younger generation. Unhealthy lifestyle, unbalanced diet, stress, smoking and drinking are some of the common reasons cited as the biggest contributors to heart problems in younger people.
Heart attacks can occur at any age. However, the risk increases as a person gets older. Over the past decade, the prevalence of heart attacks in those under 40 appears to have increased. Being male or having a family history of heart disease can contribute to the chances of having a heart attack.
More Videos. ATLANTA — The beginning of another work week will give you a case of the “Mondays,” but the end of the weekend can also bring a health risk. Your risk of having a heart attack is higher on Monday than any other day of the week. There are studies that indicate it could be as much as 20% higher.
How Long Do Heart Attack Symptoms Last? This varies from patient to patient. In some, the pain can be continuous while for others, it might start and stop again. These symptoms can last for a couple of minutes or several hours.
There are no ways to stop a heart attack yourself, but prompt medical treatment is the best way to prevent heart damage.
The very first symptom of a heart attack listed by the American Heart Association is "uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of your chest." This discomfort may come in waves lasting more than a few minutes at a time.
Mild heart attack symptoms might only occur for two to five minutes then stop with rest. A full heart attack with complete blockage lasts much longer, sometimes for more than 20 minutes.
Pre-Heart Attack Symptoms – Female
Men may feel pain and numbness in the left arm or the side of the chest. In women, these symptoms may appear on the right side. Women may experience unexplained exhaustion, or feel drained, dizzy or nauseous. Women may feel upper back pain that travels up into their jaw.
The chest pain is often severe, but some people may only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion. While the most common symptom in both men and women is chest pain, women are more likely to have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling or being sick and back or jaw pain.
Heart attacks can start slowly and cause only mild pain or discomfort. Symptoms can be mild or more intense and sudden. Symptoms also may come and go over several hours. People who have high blood sugar (diabetes) may have no symptoms or very mild ones.
“There is no such thing as a “fixed or ideal time” to go to bed which will suit all individuals. It is generally advisable to fall asleep between 10 pm to midnight as for most people this is when the circadian rhythm is at a point that favours falling asleep.”
Another major difference: Most people survive heart attacks, with only 10% of patients surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Of the approximately 350,000 people affected by the condition each year in the U.S., roughly 17% to 41% of cases occur during the nighttime hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Compared with a sleep start time of 10 to 10:59 p.m., cardiovascular disease rates were 25% higher when sleep began at midnight or later, 12% higher when sleep started in the 11 o'clock hour, and 24% higher when people fell asleep before 10 pm.