How Daylight Savings Time Affects Your Health

One hour. Sixty minutes. Three thousand six hundred seconds. It seems like a little. It is approximately 4% off 24 hours. What happens if we subtract an hour (spring forward) or add an hour to our circadian clocks (fall backward)? Over 1.5 billion people are affected by Daylight Savings Time (DST). More than 4% of our daily lives are directly affected (Smith, 2016). However, research is still uncertain as to the extent of DST’s impact on our daily lives. Although adding an hour to our day in November has minimal health consequences, losing an hour in March could be more damaging to our bodies.

DST can cause a series of reactions in the body and our daily lives – just like a row of carefully arranged dominoes. One slight movement can have a profound effect on the whole system. Let us think of the human body like a row of dominoes. We will dive deeper into how this system is disrupted twice yearly, depending on where you live. Some states and regions do not observe DST.

Homeostasis Disruption

The human body thrives on rhythm, balance, and routine. To ensure consistency in function, the body prefers a certain rhythm. Even the body’s most minor processes (in terms only of importance but microscopic) have a set schedule. You can think of processes such as cellular regeneration, blood cell turnover, protein synthesis, and nutrient absorption as examples. These processes are like clockwork. Even though an hour may not seem like much, it is essential to the body. DST can disrupt this rhythmic balance.

The Systemic Implication of DST

Sleep is the most critical aspect of health that can be affected by time changes. The body follows a 24-hour natural circadian rhythm. This cycle is internal but can be affected by medications, lifestyle, and other factors. People often report feeling more fatigued, cognitive fog, and mood changes after a lack of sleep or disruptions in their sleeping patterns.

Hormonal Shifts

The body releases hormones that affect mood, hunger, sleep, and circadian rhythm. The body may experience pain and discomfort as a result. Cluster headaches result from increased hunger due to an increase in ghrelin. Also, difficulty falling asleep or sleeping due to melatonin fluctuations can cause “cluster headaches.”

People tend to drink more caffeine when there is fatigue or a change in time. Common misconception: Caffeine gives us energy. It slows down drowsiness, competing with adenosine to bind with it. Adenosine can take the place of caffeine when it wears out, and fatigue will return.

Adverse events

Although we know that physiological processes and body rhythms are affected (often negatively), how wide-reaching can these effects spread?

DST is believed to affect motor vehicle accidents, according to some research. Smith ( 2016) published an article in American Economic Journal: Applied Economics that stated that DST’s transition to 2002-2011 caused more than 30 deaths. The social cost of DST is estimated at $275 million per year. The author used the American Time Use Survey (2009) to show that Americans sleep 40 more minutes on the night of the autumn transition. These findings are not unanimous.

Another study ( Johnson & Malow, 2022 ) shows a short-term rise in stroke in susceptible populations and an increase in depression following the March transition.

Even the American Academy of Sleep Medicine supports abolishing time changes and advocates for standard time to be made permanent. The Academy’s position statement was powerful. It stated:

Daylight saving time poses significant safety and health risks to the public, including an increased risk of motor vehicle crashes, adverse cardiovascular events, mood disorders, and other serious health problems. While the long-term effects of daylight saving time being in effect year-round are not well understood, it is known that daylight saving time has a lower alignment with human circadian biology. According to some studies, this could lead to circadian misalignment, increasing cardiovascular disease risk, metabolic syndrome, and other health risks.” ( Rishi et al., 2020).

One hour. Sixty minutes. Three thousand six hundred seconds. One hour seems like a lot to give up compared to the 23 hours a day. However, research suggests otherwise. This article highlights the importance of recognizing and respecting the power of the hour. It is still being determined whether the United States will abandon the long-standing tradition, but it is clear that a biannual time shift has a significant impact.