Daylight Saving Time Is Ruining Your Sleep! Here’s How to Fix It

Every year when clocks move forward by an hour in most parts of the US, we certainly feel the loss of an hour of sleep. But did you know that the impact of Daylight Saving Time (DST) on our health can be much more profound than this?

Virginia Tech biologist Professor Carla Finkielstein and her team believe that ending Daylight Saving Time and adopting Standard Time year-round would be better for our health.

Daylight Saving Time and Biological Clock Imbalance

DST disrupts our body’s natural biological clock (circadian rhythm). According to Professor Finkielstein, “Research has shown that Daylight Saving Time reduces exposure to morning sunlight, which affects our sleep routine and can have a negative impact on health.”

When our sleep routine is disrupted, it can increase the risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. This is why experts are advocating the adoption of standard Time year-round.

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Origin and expansion of Daylight Saving Time

DST was introduced in Germany in 1916, with the aim of saving fuel. The US adopted it in 1918, but initially it was not implemented uniformly across the country.

In 1966, under pressure from the transportation industry, it was implemented uniformly across the country. In 1987, its duration was extended to April to October, and in 2007 it was further extended to the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

However, it does not apply in some parts of the US, such as Arizona, Hawaii and some other US territories.

Effects of Daylight Saving Time on Health

DST has been shown to have several negative effects on health. According to Professor Finkielstein, “This one-hour change in time creates a disparity between our body’s internal clock and the sunlight, which has a profound effect on our health.”

Several problems have been observed due to DST:

✔ Heart diseases – There has been an increase in cases of heart attacks and strokes within a few weeks of the time change.
✔ Increase in sudden mortality rate – Research suggests that there is an increase in cases of suicide attempts and sudden deaths of newborns during this period.
✔ Road accidents – Traffic accidents increase due to darkness in the morning, and these are more fatal.
✔ Impact on work and school – Children’s studies are affected due to lack of sleep, and working people feel more tired.
✔ Impact on stock market – Volatility has been seen in the stock market for a few days after DST is implemented.

Negative effects of DST in the long term

Frequent clock time changes can also cause long-term health problems:

✔ Obesity – Studies related to DST have found that it increases the risk of obesity by 10%.
✔ Heart disease – DST increases the risk of heart disease in people by 19%.
✔ Diabetes – Type 2 diabetes cases have increased by 5%.
✔ Cancer risk – Research suggests that cancer cases may increase by 9% in men and 12% in women.

Additionally, daylight saving time increases US healthcare costs by about $2.96 billion each year.

Advocacy for ending DST and adopting permanent standard time

Instead of implementing DST permanently, scientists recommend adopting standard time.

The US experimented with implementing DST all year round during the energy crisis in the 1970s. Initially it received public support, but in winter when it became dark in the mornings and road accidents increased, support dropped from 79% to 42%. As a result, Congress had to reverse this decision.

What should be done?

If your sleep is being affected due to DST, follow these tips:

✔ Try to sleep early – Avoid staying up late at night and set a fixed bedtime.
✔ Wake up early in the morning – Waking up early in the morning will allow your biological clock to adjust naturally.
✔ Avoid driving – Be careful especially in the morning, as lack of sleep can increase the risk of accidents.
✔ Get sunlight – Spending some time in the morning sun will help your biological clock adjust better.

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Conclusion

While the purpose of Daylight Saving Time was to save energy, scientific evidence suggests that it has serious negative effects on health and safety.

DST increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other health problems. Apart from this, it also affects road accidents and the productivity of working people.

Experts believe that we should live in harmony with our biological clock and adopt standard time throughout the year. The more we live in harmony with our natural surroundings, the better our health and life will be.