People have debated the economic and health effects of Daylight Saving Time for generations and I don’t expect to be able to settle that argument today but what I can offer are some insights into its health effects.
Losing an hour of sleep in the spring is associated with a score of both positive and negative effects. The increased risk of accidents at work and heart attacks in men have been documented.
The most commonly accepted explanation is that the loss of an hour of sleep in a population that is already chronically sleep deprived is the underlying trigger. On the other hand, the extra daylight means that more people are out and about participating in sports and other outdoor activities that are generally good for us.
In the fall we “fall back” and gain an extra hour of sleep. For the most part this is good especially if you take advantage of this opportunity to gain a bit of extra shut-eye. There doesn’t seem to be as dramatic an effect on accidents at work or heart attacks as in the spring.
However, pedestrians are at an increased risk for accidents in the evening hours which we think is a function of people being out in the dark when visibility is reduced so please take care.
Also, some people have circadian rhythms which are very sensitive. This normal variation in our daily body rhythms which is tied to sunlight exposure regulates many of our normal body functions. Some people will find that they have more migraine headaches while others will have difficulty falling asleep at night.
It’s amazing but just an hour's difference can have a profound effect on our bodies and so the suggestion is to take it easy and be especially mindful of your own body’s needs at this time. It will probably take a few days for you to adjust so be nice to yourself.