Is Daylight Saving Time Ruining Our Health?

It seems every November and March, the U.S. population is ready to debate the benefits of Daylight Saving Time. Many agree with the one-hour time change that occurs twice in a year while others hate how much their internal clock is impacted by the change. In March of 2022, the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, which seeks to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. If the House of Representative passes the bill and the president signs it into law, when we move our clocks head in March 2023, we’ll keep time one hour ahead of the sun permanently.

Though the motivation behind making Standard Time a thing of the past is centered on the time changes’ negative impact on children and teens, there are a lot of concerns for adults as well. Many sleep experts who have studied the effects of the time change over the years believe it disrupts circadian rhythms and leads to poorer sleep overall. Dr. Elizabeth Klerman, a professor of neurology in the division of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School, for example, believes that Daylight Saving Time harms our health. “Your body clock stays with (natural) light not with the clock on your wall,” Klerman said. “And there’s no evidence that your body fully shifts to the new time.”

These negative effects of Daylight Saving Time are even more pronounced in seniors, who are already susceptible to sleep problems. They can also worsen a myriad of other issues, including obesity, diabetes and dementia. Disrupting sleep through Daylight Saving Time increases the risk of senior-related issues such as falling, “sundowning” and remembering to take medications on time.

Additionally, with permanent Daylight Saving Time, those who live in the Northeast United States may not see the full sun until 9 a.m. in the winter months. Some people also worry about seniors who need to go to appointments or run errands early in the mornings. If it is dark, there could be a greater chance of falling or slipping outside, especially in inclement weather.

The debate over what is best concerning the time change continues. There are clear pros and cons to both sides of the argument. The House of Representatives will soon have the opportunity to either pass the bill as the Senate did or reject the idea. No matter what they decide, it’s unlikely a bill would be signed into law before the upcoming March. We’ll probably spring ahead at least one more time.