Doctor issues health warning for 6am alarms

A 6am alarm could increase your risk of a hearing attack, a leading cardiologist has warned.

Founder of the National Heart Clinic in London, Dr. Francesco Lo Monaco explains why your morning routine puts extra strain on your heart.

“From approximately 6am to 10am each morning, your cardiovascular system undergoes a series of predictable physiological changes that significantly increase the risk of heart attack,” he told the Daily Mirror newspaper.

Those with hidden or unstable plaque, those with chronic stress, insomnia, or high blood pressure are at even greater risk.

During these early hours, blood becomes “temporarily stickier,” the PAI-1 protein “increases and decreases your ability to break down clots by up to 80 percent,” “your arteries also contract, and cortisol rises just 45 minutes after waking.”

Although these are normal reactions, they can put a combined strain on the cardiovascular system, and your alarm clock can make the situation worse.

Dr. Lo Monaco explained: “Waking up suddenly from the alarm clock causes a shock to the system.

“Heart rate variability drops by 30 percent to 50 percent in at-risk individuals, causing the cardiovascular system to become less resilient at exactly the moment when it is most stressed.”

But there are some simple changes that can help.

The doctor advised: “If possible, wake up slowly and give yourself enough time to get ready without rushing.

“Instead of a harsh, jarring alarm tone, try a light-based alarm that will make it easier for you to wake up.”

In addition to making sure we get quality sleep regularly and have a consistent wake-up time, it’s important to understand our own body.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lo Monaco also gave a warning to people trying to train early.

He said: “Avoid intense exercise in the first 30 minutes of waking up and don’t run up and down the stairs immediately. All of this adds unnecessary stress to your heart at the worst possible time.”