NBC -- One less hour of sleep may not be the only side effect of Daylight Saving Time. It turns out that turning your clock forward could be bad for your ticker.
Doctors in Sweden looked at the number of heart attacks during the days immediately following the clock change and compared them to the period two weeks before and two weeks after.
They found the incidence of heart attack significantly higher for the first three weekdays after turning the clocks forward. The rate of heart attacks was also up after clocks fall back, but only for one day after the time change.
Doctors here say it likely relates to altering sleep patterns and sleep deprivation.
"If you burn the candle at both ends then there is a price to pay in long-term health," said Dr. Charles Bae of the Cleveland Clinic.
They point out a 1995 study that says car accidents also increase in the days following the clock change: Tired drivers make roads dangerous.
"You loose that hour and when you get up on Monday morning and are rushed as usual and are not paying enough attention or as much as usual on the way to work," said Dr. Bae.
So when you set your clocks forward this weekend, doctors say don't forget to also make time to get a little more sleep.
Your health and safety may depend on it.