\u201cTo everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
No matter the source you cite, the line may inspire a tune to pop up in your head. For me, it\u2019s The Byrds (Turn! Turn! Turn!<\/a>).<\/p>\n A new study shows that \u201ca time to heal\u201d may be the afternoon. Specifically, \u201cPatients undergoing open heart surgery in the afternoon have a lower risk of potentially fatal complications than those undergoing operations in the morning,\u201d summarizes an article in The Guardian<\/a>.<\/p>\n The study<\/a>, which was carried out at France\u2019s Lille University Hospital, split 596 patients receiving the same aortic valve replacement to undergo the procedure in either the morning or afternoon. Results showed that afternoon patients had a lower incidence of \u201cmajor adverse cardiac events\u201d. While there could be other factors contributing to this result, timing does seem to play a role. With such a physically invasive and complicated procedure, risks are high, and any opportunity for improvement could be welcome news for patients, families, and caregivers.<\/p>\n So what gives? The study suggests that circadian rhythms may be impacting the situation. Just as the entire body changes over a person\u2019s lifespan, changes can take place even across a single day. For any number of reasons, your body\u2019s got rhythm, and circadian (from the Latin circa<\/i>, meaning \u2018around\u2019) cycles can have you up and boogieing sometimes and ready to rest at others. Studies<\/a> suggest that most heart attacks — and the most serious heart attacks — occur in the morning. By afternoon, perhaps, the heart is more relaxed and better equipped to deal with the added stress of surgery. Funny you should ask.<\/p>\n Think about this: When do you prefer to do each of the following?<\/p>\n For me, as well as for you, there\u2019s a time for each of these things. I prefer to brush my teeth after a meal, buy a birthday present a week or two in advance of the big day (ideally!), and celebrate the new year when the clock strikes 12 on January 1.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a cycle to everything, and you don\u2019t have to be a heart surgeon to notice. Fall is in full swing here in Virginia, with leaves going out in a blaze of glory. With Election Day just wrapped up, it\u2019s time for another electoral cycle to begin (if it ever ends). I\u2019m starting to think about Thanksgiving, which means inventing something original and yet traditional to serve with our big meal — but I\u2019ve still got a few weeks to figure it out, thankfully.<\/p>\n
\nGet rhythm. Your heart's got it. Why not your surveys? <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>
\nIs this where we make the connection to surveys? Is it that time?<\/p>\n\n