The predominant increase has been with the switch from standard to daylight in March. We don’t know the actual mechanism because these are epidemiological studies, where there are large numbers of people, and observe the stroke rate or heart attack rate increase the week after. Can you talk a bit about how daylight saving changes can increase the risk for these kinds of events? You wrote a commentary in JAMA Neurology last year that discusses some medical complications -such as cardiovascular problems and stroke-associated with the transitions. It’s a misalignment of your biological rhythms, or circadian rhythms, for eight months out of the year. It’s kind of like traveling from Nashville,, to New York -going from Central to Eastern time.” But really isn’t that. The one thing I will say is that people think, “Well, it’s only an hour, so it’s not a big deal. Some people are affected by jet lag more than others. It’s similar to when we travel to Europe. Other people may deal with the change more easily. People also tell me they just feel out of sync for a while. Some people have shared with me that, for example, they might have a child with autism, and for two or three months after the transition, they feel like things are just not right with their child’s sleep.
There’s a lot of variability in what people experience. Generally speaking, how disruptive are the transitions to and from daylight saving to physical and mental well-being? The end of daylight saving time is fast approaching.
Limbo in europe fate daylight saving how to#
Last year the European Parliament voted to abolish the time shifts, but the member states of the European Union have yet to agree on how to implement the decision.īeth Malow, a professor of neurology and pediatrics at Vanderbilt University, spoke with Scientific American about the health effects of this timekeeping practice and what should replace it. Hawaii and most of Arizona decided to adopt just standard time more than 50 years ago. In the U.S., many states are considering, or have already passed, legislation to adopt one of the two. Governments around the world have been in discussions about scrapping the seasonal clock changes and sticking to one time-either permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving. In many countries, this might be the one of the last instances in which people make the adjustment.
There is also evidence of increases in traffic fatalities and harmful medical errors shortly following when clocks are moved forward in the spring. Scientists have been calling attention to the damaging effects of the time changes-which include a general reduction in mental and physical well-being, as well as a potential increased risk of serious complications, such as strokes and heart attacks, soon after the shifts. This system’s twice-a-year transitions have become increasingly unpopular. It’s nearly that time of the year again: the end of daylight saving, when Americans push their clocks back and rejoice at the gained hour of sleep-or mourn the lost hour of sunlight in the afternoon. Editor’s Note (11/5/21): This story from October 29, 2020, is being republished ahead of November 7, when daylight saving time will end this year and clocks will be turned back one hour.
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