Daylight Saving Time starts on Sunday morning at 2am and, as we told you, the time change affects sleep schedules. But, it also has other side effects like more stress, resulting in an increase in traffic fatalities, hospital admissions for severe health impacts like strokes and heart attacks, and much more. So you can steel yourself against those, here are the details on what DST can do according to “CNET” and experts:
- Mental Health. When your body doesn't receive enough sleep, it impacts the frontal lobe of your brain. Think of your frontal lobe as your best friend who doesn't let you act out on impulses. Well, when you don't sleep well or receive enough of it, it impacts your frontal lobe's ability to make sound decisions. As such, you're more prone to make impulse decisions.
- Changes in hormone regulation. It impacts your body's ability to rhythmically produce melatonin. When your body doesn't produce enough melatonin, it leads to other health issues such as sleep disorders, mood swings, increased anxiety and elevated estrogen and progesterone ratios.
- Increased risk of heart-related issues. Research has found there's an increase in heart attacks and strokes for the first two weeks after the clock changes, with the highest risk being the first three weekdays after the switch. It can increase heart rate, blood pressure and the production of the stress hormone cortisol, all of these raise your risk of heart issues.
- Impact on metabolism and weight regulation. Your metabolism can slow and you produce hunger hormones, which help you crave more food.
- DST can exacerbate pre-existing health conditions by elevating risk factors.
Source: CNET