This weekend, most European countries will end daylight saving time (DST), turning their clocks back one hour. This biannual practice, intended to make better use of daylight, has become a subject of controversy, as growing evidence suggests it may harm people's health. The shift back to standard time occurs on Sunday, affecting millions across Europe.
Understanding Daylight Saving Time
Daylight saving time is observed in several countries, including Europe, the United States, parts of Canada, Australia, and Latin America. Clocks are moved forward by one hour in the spring and reverted in the fall to standard time. This change aims to extend evening daylight, but health experts increasingly argue that its negative effects outweigh any benefits.
A recent position statement by the British Sleep Society, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, urged the UK government to end the twice-yearly clock changes. Sleep researchers advocate for maintaining standard time throughout the year, as it aligns more closely with the natural day-night cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm.
How Time Changes Affect Health
The circadian rhythm regulates essential bodily functions like sleep, hormone production, metabolism, and mood. DST disrupts this rhythm by shifting the natural sleep-wake cycle, potentially leading to various health problems. According to Dr. Megan Crawford, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Strathclyde and lead author of the position statement, the time shift may not seem significant in summer, but in spring and autumn, it leads to darker mornings, depriving people of the crucial morning sunlight needed for circadian alignment.
Well-timed exposure to morning light promotes natural waking and enables falling asleep earlier in the evening, while exposure to light in the evening can delay sleep onset. Disrupting this cycle can result in sleep disturbances and other adverse health effects.
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The Health Risks of DST
Scientific research supports the notion that DST affects health negatively. For example:
Heart Attacks: A meta-analysis of seven studies involving over 100,000 participants found an increased risk of heart attacks in the weeks following both spring and autumn clock changes.
Stroke Risk: A Finnish study noted a rise in stroke hospitalizations within two days of the time shift.
Mental Health Issues: There is also evidence suggesting an increase in mood disturbances and mental health problems, including higher suicide rates, particularly during the spring transition.
The Push to End Daylight Saving Time
Despite these findings, many people remain attached to the idea of DST. Dr. Crawford suggests that the reluctance to end the practice stems from a misunderstanding. "The sun won’t change just because we’re changing our schedules," she explained, emphasizing that extended evening daylight would still occur in summer without DST.
In 2018, the European Commission proposed abolishing DST after a consultation showed that 84% of EU residents supported the change. However, while the European Parliament approved the proposal, the European Council has yet to reach an agreement, and DST transitions continue.
As daylight saving time ends in Europe this weekend, health experts warn about the potential risks associated with this time change. The call to eliminate DST in favor of permanent standard time is driven by evidence linking time shifts to disruptions in sleep, cardiovascular health, and mental well-being. With widespread public support for ending the practice, it remains to be seen whether future policies will bring about a permanent change.
Source: Euronews
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