Be your own Sunshine Protection Act

After a bitter winter with record levels of snow in the parched environment of Colorado, the birds are chirping and the thaw of spring is here.  The light dawns earlier and the day is beginning to stretch.  Most of America will lose an hour of sleep to Daylight Savings Time (DST) with few plans in place to defray the hazards.

The Hazards of Daylight Savings Time  

For at least ten years, science has documented the hazards of Daylight Savings time (DST). The loss of a single hour of sleep can wreak havoc on the body for days, weeks, and even months.  More than 60% of the world’s countries have kicked the time change to the curb for good reason.  The states of Arizona and Hawaii do not observe the twice per year shift either. 

Night owls and teenagers suffer the most.  In addition to the feeling of jet-lag, statistics compiled by Northwestern Medicine show DST throws off your circadian rhythm and is linked to a concerning list of immediate and long-term health effects.

Serious health impacts during the week after DST include

1. 24% higher risk of heart attacks

2. 6% spike in fatal car accidents

3. 8% increase in strokes

4. 11% spike in depressive episodes like seasonal depression

5. Increases in diseases of the digestive and immune system (3% increase in colitis for females over 60)

Long term health effects include

1. Depression

2. Slower metabolism

3. Weight gain

4. Cluster Headaches

There is hope that DST will be eradicated this year.  The Sunshine Protection Act 2023 is a bipartisan effort to “lock the clock” and make March 12th, 2023 the last time Americans have to adjust their clocks by season.  Instituted in 1918 and a largely useless attempt to save energy, it will take an act of congress to change.  While the history is fascinating, its impact on health makes this change a “no-brainer.”

Until our politicians can agree and decide to follow the wisdom of science, it is up to you to be aware of the risks and take special care of your sleep in the following weeks.  

Tips to avoid the hazards of Daylight Savings Time

In the Morning

1. Get outside first thing in the morning.  Natural light preserves your circadian rhythm.

2. Exercise.  It will reset your internal clock and build your sleep drive (and boost focus).

Bedtime

1. Keep a sleep routine of 7-10 hours each night, but start an hour earlier this week.

2. Avoid sleep disruptors: limit caffeine, alcohol, and screen time.

Invest in your sleep with intention this week, and avoid the hazards of Daylight Savings Time.  Invest in it regularly, and live longer by 13%!

Be your own Sunshine Protection Act.