Impact of Daylight Savings Time on Your Health
OAN’s Stephanie Stahl
2:32 PM – Friday, November 3, 2023
Clocks will be set back by one hour on Sunday, November 5th for daylight savings time, giving Americans an extra hour of sleep. However, experts suggest that shifting the clocks back and forth could have negative effects on health.
Daylight savings time is observed in most of North America and Europe, while it is less common in many other countries, particularly those situated near the equator.
Canada and Cuba will also prepare to turn their clocks back on November 5th, ending daylight savings time. However, there is an ongoing debate in the U.S. regarding whether to abolish this practice as well.
Experts suggest that year-round standard time works best for the natural rhythms of the human body.
The back and forth shifting in time has been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, abnormal heart rhythms, sleep disruption, mood disturbances, and even suicide, according to research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
A neurologist at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University noted that the rate of stroke rises eight percent in the spring, calling it a “substantial” jump in comparison to the rest of the year.
“Sleep is essential for promoting cardiovascular and neurological health. Those who are sleep deprived experience headaches, brain fog, memory and concentration issues, and do not make good decisions for themselves because executive function is not at its best,” continued Dr. Leah Croll.
Rebecca Robbins, PhD, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital adds that having light in the mornings is “beneficial” to the human body.
“Morning sunlight exposure stops the floodgates of melatonin, our sleep hormone, and switches to the wake phase of our circadian rhythm,” Robbins said. “This is important for our brain to say we can start our day.”
Specialists continue to advocate for year-round adherence to the standard time.
For instance, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has established a new alliance to promote state and federal laws that would establish standard time as the permanent time standard throughout the United States. Other participating organizations in this coalition encompass the National Sleep Foundation, Save Standard Time, Sleep Research Society, and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms.
Only two U.S. states, Arizona and Hawaii, deviate from daylight savings time, opting not to adjust their clocks annually.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
One California resident who was visiting family in Israel, attended the music festival , where more than 200 people were massacred by Hamas.
Critical Race Theory continues to infiltrate school districts across the country. But some are standing up to CRT.
As Democrats seek to prosecute Republicans for contesting the 2020 election, the party admits that fraud has recently occurred across numerous states in recent months.
Virginia and New Jersey will head to the polls Tuesday to determine the makeup of their state legislative chambers.
The British PM championed a series of landmark agreements after the first AI safety summit, but a global plan for overseeing the technology remains a long way off.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI will release its first AI model to a select group on Saturday.
PayPal added nearly $4 billion to its market value after a pledge to turn “leaner” fired up investors.
China’s most popular social media platforms announced that “self-media” accounts with more than 500,000 followers will be asked to display real-name information
rnrn
What are the negative effects of daylight savings time on health and well-being?
Free. Subscribe to the Morning Briefing newsletter here.
While the concept of daylight savings time was introduced with the intention of conserving energy and maximizing daylight during the summer months, there is growing concern over the negative effects it has on health and well-being. Shifting the clocks back and forth not only disrupts our sleep patterns but also poses risks to cardiovascular and neurological health.
According to research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, the biannual time change has been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, abnormal heart rhythms, sleep disruption, mood disturbances, and even suicide. The impact is particularly pronounced in the spring, with an eight percent rise in stroke rates compared to the rest of the year. Sleep deprivation resulting from these time adjustments can cause headaches, brain fog, memory and concentration issues, and impair decision-making abilities.
Experts propose that year-round adherence to standard time would be more beneficial for our natural rhythms. Research suggests that exposure to morning sunlight helps regulate our circadian rhythm and promotes wakefulness. Specialists argue that having light in the mornings is vital for our brains to signal the start of the day and ensure optimal alertness.
In response to these concerns, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has formed an alliance with other organizations to advocate for year-round standard time. This coalition includes the National Sleep Foundation, Save Standard Time, Sleep Research Society, and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms. Their goal is to promote state and federal laws that establish standard time as the permanent time standard throughout the United States.
Currently, only two U.S. states, Arizona and Hawaii, do not observe daylight savings time, choosing to remain on standard time instead.
As we approach the upcoming time change on Sunday, November 5th, it is important to acknowledge the potential negative effects on our health. While the additional hour of sleep is appreciated, it’s worth considering the long-term impact of these biannual time adjustments. Adopting year-round standard time could provide a more stable and healthy routine for our bodies and minds.
To stay updated on important news and receive breaking news directly to your inbox, subscribe to our Morning Briefing newsletter here.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
Now loading...