Timing is everything

By Rachelle Vander Schaaf

When it comes to landing a great job, buying your dream house or delivering a punch line, timing is everything. And the same may be true for staying healthy. Experts say that by watching the clock and the calendar, we can make the most of self-care routines, medical appointments, and even diet and exercise. Here, their tips on the best times to make crucial health moves.

The best time to schedule surgery: 9 or 10 a.m. on a Tuesday or Wednesday
Conventional wisdom says it's best to be first in the operating room so the surgeon's fresh -- but a recent study in General Surgery News shows that surgeons who've warmed up may perform better. The first operation of the day -- usually at 7:30 or 8 a.m. -- serves as the warm-up, so strive to get the second or third spot. "If you can get in there midmorning, you'll still have most of the day to recover and have a better chance of going home that night," says Jerry Simons, PA-C, president of the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants. Plus, levels of adrenaline (the hormone that quickens breathing and heart rate) are naturally lower in the morning than in the afternoon. "More adrenaline further stresses a body that's already stressed by surgery," Simons explains.

There's also a rhythm to the week, says Simons, who suggests scheduling surgery on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when surgeons may be in top form and nurses most attentive. "By this time, the surgeon has had at least a day to get in the swing, and also should be available for the rest of the workweek if you have questions or problems during recovery," he says. "On Fridays, nurses often tend to be busier taking care of administrative tasks before the weekend."

The best time to do a breast self-exam: the day after your period ends
Get in the habit of checking your breasts right after menstrual bleeding stops, when breasts are softest and least tender. A day or two later is still OK, but the closer you get to your next period, the more swollen and painful breasts become (what are called fibrocystic breast changes), making it harder to do an adequate self-exam, says Mack Barnes, M.D., a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Doing self-exams at the same time each month also helps you learn to tell the difference between natural changes and worrisome ones; comparing early-in-your-cycle, softer breasts to later, bumpier ones is like comparing apples to oranges. Fibrocystic breast changes, which also include lumps and cysts that are usually harmless, peak seven to 10 days before menstruation.

The best time to slather on sunscreen: 20 minutes before you head outdoors
"This gives the product time to soak in and even out so you get the best protection," says Audrey Kunin, M.D., a Kansas City, Mo., dermatologist and founder of dermadoctor.com. "Sunscreen that's had time to penetrate won't wash off as easily if you jump in the water or sweat heavily."

The best time to see a doctor: the first appointment of the day
Every appointment carries the chance of running over the allotted time, putting a doctor further and further behind schedule as the day goes on. "If you can't get in first thing, try right after the doctor's lunch hour," suggests Amy Rosenberg, M.D., a family physician in Westfield, N.J. Avoid the after-work crowd if at all possible; that's rush hour in waiting rooms.

The best time to cheat on your diet: within two hours of an all-out workout
If you're going to splurge, do it after heavy or sustained exercise, and the sweet treat may go straight to your muscles instead of your thighs. "Your body stores sugar in the form of glycogen in muscle, and when you exercise hard or for about an hour, those sugar reserves get used up," explains Althea Zanecosky, R.D., a professor of sports nutrition at Drexel University in Philadelphia. "For a couple of hours afterward, your muscle cells are most receptive to replenishment from carbohydrates. However, any calories not burned will be converted to fat, so don't eat more than you've expended."

The best time to take the pill: at night "Taking the pill at night so they sleep through any nausea [a common side effect] works for many women," says Sara Grimsley Augustin, PharmD, an assistant professor at the Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy in Atlanta. (Don't down it on an empty stomach, though.) She adds: "Take the pill at the same time every day, especially if you're on mini pills, which contain less estrogen. The contraceptive might be less effective against pregnancy if there's more than 24 hours between doses."