DETROIT – People will be turning their clocks forward an hour Sunday morning, and that one-hour change could have a big impact.
That lost hour of sleep is annoying to most, but sleep experts argue, there are significant reasons why it’s finally time to put an end to changing the clocks.
Once a year, our clocks spring forward, moving daylight later into the evening, but that extra light comes at a cost.
Read: Daylight Saving Time: Why are we still doing it?
“The sleep and scientific community have a position against Daylight Saving Time with advocacy to adopt permanent Standard Time. And the reason for that is that permanent standard time is most aligned with our internal clock, and it’s best for our overall health,” said Dr. Anita Shelgikar, a sleep specialist at University of Michigan Health. “First and foremost, it causes a misalignment between our internal clock and the external world around us. So, when there’s a mismatch between our body’s internal clock and the sun time, that causes a discrepancy and really affects the regulation of multiple biological processes.”
That can increase the risk of heart problems, including a higher risk of an abnormal heart rhythm. Several studies already link springing forward to an increase in strokes, heart attacks, and car accidents on the following Monday.
To minimize the impact, try to go to bed a few minutes earlier each night before the switch.
“Keeping your sleeping environment cool, dark and quiet and exposing yourself to bright light as soon as you wake up in the morning,” Shelgikar said. “Light is the most powerful regulator of our internal clock and exposing ourselves to light when we want to wake up, dimming the lights in the environment close to bedtime, are really powerful ways to entrain our internal clock.”
The time change can also be extra hard on people already suffering from sleep problems.
Experts say if you often have trouble sleeping or don’t feel rested when you wake up, you should talk to your doctor.