Hidden Harm of Daylight Savings

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted October 27, 2023

Daylight Saving Time is no big deal. It’s just an hour… it can’t affect that much. Right?

WRONG.

The truth is whether we’re “springing forth” or “falling back,” daylight saving time (DST) can change your life in small but harmful ways.

In fact, research reveals one common side effect that can negatively affect EVERY aspect of your life.

DST doesn’t just alter the time on our clocks.

Scientists warn this seemingly small change can impact on your overall health and mood in a BIG way.

Most of us are aware by now that “springing forward” is linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and accidents.

But when DST begins, there are also more depressive episodes, suicides, and hospital visits related to anxiety and depression.

You see, when the time shifts forward by one hour in the spring, the darker mornings can cause your melatonin and serotonin levels to drop—a hormone that’s linked to mood.

And folks who get up early may miss out on exposure to natural morning light, which is vital for keeping our mood balanced.

The start of DST gets all the attention. But on the flipside, the “fall back”—the return to standard time—is treated as if it’s no big deal.

The truth is, regardless of whether DST is starting or ending, it can STILL mess with your mood. And that can have an impact on EVERY aspect of your life.

To begin with, an alteration in your sleeping pattern, even by one hour, isn’t as insignificant as it sounds.

BOTH “gaining” or “losing” an hour can leave you feeling groggy and out of sorts as it messes with your cortisol (“stress” hormone), serotonin (“feel good” hormone), and melatonin (“sleep” hormone) levels.

Even worse, bumping the clock forward or backward wreaks HAVOC with your circadian rhythms. These biological clocks guide your normal wake sleep cycle and other bodily functions.

So, the misalignment caused by a shifting clock… backward or forwards… can affect your sleep cycle, mood, and general well-being.

For example, many folks have trouble going to sleep and staying asleep after the time changes, which can last for weeks afterward. And, of course, insomnia messes with your mood, making you feel short-tempered, anxious, and depressed.

When we return to standard time in the fall, you may already be battling mood issues if you have seasonal affective disorder (SAD). And this time shift can knock your brain chemicals even further out of balance, worsening depression.

The good news is that most of these risks drop again after a few weeks as you adjust to the new time.

You can take a few simple steps to ease the adjustment back to standard time this year and reduce your risk of mood and other problems.

Under federal law, DST ends at 2 AM on the first Sunday in November. This year, that makes it fall on November 5^th.

• Start preparing for the time change four days before by shifting your bed and wake time 15 minutes forward each night. For example, if you typically go to bed at 10 PM and wake up at 6 AM, then four days before, you’ll go to bed at 10:15 and wake up at 6.15. Then, three days before, you turn in at 10:30 and wake up at 6:30, and so on. Then, on November 5^th you go to bed at 11 PM but wake up at your usual 6 AM. This will ease the transition and help your body adjust to the new time once it strikes.
• After the change, you may still feel sleepy an hour earlier than usual and hungrier an hour before your normal meal times. But stick to your regular schedule to help your body adjust sooner and avoid major mood problems.
• After the change, try stepping outside daily when the sun rises, exposing yourself to 15 to 20 minutes of morning sunlight. And try heading out again before sunset to get as much daylight exposure as possible. This will help fight off fall sleepiness and reset your circadian rhythms.
• Surprisingly, recent research finds that prebiotics can help people adjust to a new time schedule. So, if you aren’t taking one, consider starting now.
• If you are battling insomnia after the clock shifts, a melatonin supplement could help you get your sleep schedule back on track.

And another thing…

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Sources:

“Local Time FAQs: Daylight saving time rules, exceptions and legislation. Time zones, borders, abbreviations and relationship to U.S. postal zip codes,” National Institute of Standards and Technology, Physical Measurement Laboratory, NIST. gov

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND