The change from Daylight Saving Time happened over the weekend. Apparently, we all need to be careful driving and consider how this can affect our health.
Be careful driving today. A study found there are more crashes right after Daylight Saving Time ends. The study found a 15% rise in highway crashes, a 28% increase in nighttime wrecks and a 6% rise in overall car accidents.
You would think gaining an hour of sleep would be good for us. However, there are negative affects to health by adjusting the time. Here are four examples.
- Cluster Headaches. They tend to happen in six to eight-week cycles, and people have more of them this time of year. The theory is it’s because the part of our brain that generates cluster headaches also manages our circadian rhythm.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder, or “SAD”. Shorter days means less sunlight and less vitamin D. So, depression is more common as the days get shorter in general. However, for most people earlier sunsets don’t help.
- Alzheimer’s and dementia. It can be hard on people with these diseases. They tend to be more affected by shifts in sleep schedule, so it can make symptoms worse.
- Strokes and heart attacks. Springing forward in March has a bigger effect. However, there’s a small spike this time of year too. Our bodies just don’t seem to like it when we mess with our internal clock.
Are you for continuing to adjust the time twice a year or do you think we should stop adjusting the time back and forth?
By: Buck Stevens
