You are most prone to heart attacks, stroke at 6.30 am

A new study has found that a person is most likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke at 6.30 am.

Researchers from Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and Oregon Health and Science University have blamed the protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), for the increased risk for cardiovascular events in the morning.

Study author Dr Frank Scheer, from BWH, explained that PAI-1 is at its peak in the body at approximately 6.30 am in a regular 24-hour sleep/wake cycle.

Co-author Dr Steven Shea added that the human circadian system causes a morning peak in circulating levels of PAI-1, independent of any behavioural or environmental influences.

Scheer asserted that it all comes down to our internal body clock when heart attacks and stroke come into the picture.

The research is published in the journal Blood.