Why do we have daylight saving time (DST),when it seems like it is constantly the butt of jokes? Why do we even have it if it appears to be bad for our health?
It's an old joke. One idea for DST was presented in 1784 by Benjamin Franklin in a satirical essay in the Journal de Paris as a way to save on candle wax. It was first implemented in Europe and the US during World War I. The implementation of DST has, across the last hundred years, been supported by purported reductions in energy usage and increases in daily productivity. While in the US it has taken a few different forms, in 1966 the Uniform Time Act cemented the current schedule of six months of standard time and six months of DST.
Good one Ben.
Other arguments in favor of DST are that it allows people more time to enjoy leisure activities during the summer months and that it leads to an increase in physical activity but all of these remain controversial. A 2014 study did not find any difference in activity patterns between people living in Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico and residents of Arizona, a state which does not observe DST. Studies on energy usage have also had mixed results: one showed moderate savings in energy spending in Norway and Sweden, while another showed an increase in energy spending in Indiana. However, these results are hard to tease apart from natural energy savings that occur in months where people spend more time outside, regardless of DST.
Work and play are one thing, but it also matters that our bodies naturally run on approximately 24-hour cycles. Just like we have time zones so that we can keep timing consistent across the world, we also each have a system in our body that helps keep our physiological timing in check.This "master" clock is in the brains hypothalamus and is called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). It can sync time throughout the body through hormonal and chemical signals.
Our internal clocks regulate many bodily processes that we know are important for health, such as our sleep-wake cycles, and regulate the physiology of our body in several ways, from our liver function to our immune system. These clocks are disrupted in many of the most devastating human diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders (i.e. Alzheimers disease), psychiatric disorders, and heart disease.
What sets the time for the SCN? There are many environmental cues that keep us "on time", such as temperature, food, and socialization, but one of the most important is light. The SCN receives input from specialized cells in the retina that relay light as a signal that the SCN can communicate to the rest of the body. Thus, light disruption can have catastrophic effects on the functionality of our biological clocks.
We are now gaining insight into the importance of keeping a healthy biological clock as a way to prevent, slow down, and even treat disease. And as we do, it is becoming clear that DST is harmful to our health.
While the body clock gradually adjusts in response to light changes as the earth rotates and the seasons change, the sudden change of time that comes with the beginning and end of DST can have substantial impacts on our body. Incidences of heart attacks increase around the time change in both spring and fall. Other examples of the poor health outcomes of DST include increases in traffic accidents, less sleep that can translate into higher workplace injury rates, and increases in emergency hospital visits.
Photo by boris misevic on Unsplash
One study has also shown that people can not ever really adjust to DST, and that it interferes with our natural adaptation to the changing seasons. These acute effects permeate society and have both economic and physical costs to who inhabit places that use DST.
The chronic health effects of DST speak to a larger issue, which is that disrupting the body's natural rhythm negatively affects our health. Our bodies use a plethora of signals to keep our body on time. Hormonal cycles (the increases and decreases in hormones across the day) are shifted by light, and when out of sync these can have profound effects on our ability to process the energy we need from food and even get a good nights rest. That's why jet lag can be so hard to recover from.
In a retrospective study, it was shown that during DST adolescents suffered from a large misalignment of their social and biological clocks and that this misalignment had an influence on sleep, mood, and behavior in the long term. A discrepancy in social and biological clocks is associated with risk of endocrine and cardiovascular disorders. Even decrease in life expectancy can be attributed to biological clock disruption.
Should we then stick to standard time throughout the year, rather than have DST year-round? This comes down to the use of time zones. While we may need them to function in a global society, even time zones cause some people to live on a different time than solar time," the time of day calculated from the sun's position in the sky. A particular time zones clock time is set most closely to the eastern edge of the time zone's solar time. So, even when on standard time, people on the western edge of that time zone can be misaligned about an hour from their local solar time (here's a calculator to determine your local solar time). This discrepancy is exacerbated even more during DST. It has even been shown that cancer risk can increasedepending on east-west positioning in a time zone. While standard time is not a perfect system, it is our best option to support biological clock alignment in a modern society where we can not just live based on the time of the sun.
There are negative health consequences to using DST, with very little benefit. Changing to year-round standard time is a relatively simple yet profoundly effective way to give people a chance to keep up a more coordinated biological clock. Experts who have been studying biological clocks for decades agree. So when "falling back" tonight, lets hope that one day we will never have to spring forward again.
See original here:
Daylight saving time is bad for your health Read now - Massive Science
- Hypothalamus - Your Hormones - December 5th, 2017 [December 5th, 2017]
- Depression and Your Hypothalamus | Dr. Lauren Deville ... - December 18th, 2017 [December 18th, 2017]
- HPA Axis Dysfunction | Adrenal Fatigue Solution - December 18th, 2017 [December 18th, 2017]
- Hypothalamus Disorders - December 18th, 2017 [December 18th, 2017]
- Hypothalamus | Hypothalamus Gland - Sleep Disorders Guide - January 12th, 2018 [January 12th, 2018]
- Hunger Motivation AP Psychology Community - January 22nd, 2018 [January 22nd, 2018]
- Hypothalamus | Endocrine Awareness Center for Health - March 4th, 2018 [March 4th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus Function, Definition & Location | Body Maps - March 7th, 2018 [March 7th, 2018]
- What is Circadian Rhythm? - National Sleep Foundation - March 29th, 2018 [March 29th, 2018]
- Location of the Hypothalamus | HHMI BioInteractive - March 30th, 2018 [March 30th, 2018]
- What is Hypothalamus, Parts of Hypothalamus with Pictures - May 31st, 2018 [May 31st, 2018]
- Arcuate nucleus - Wikipedia - June 17th, 2018 [June 17th, 2018]
- Ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus - Wikipedia - June 26th, 2018 [June 26th, 2018]
- Lateral hypothalamus - Wikipedia - July 30th, 2018 [July 30th, 2018]
- Paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus - Wikipedia - August 6th, 2018 [August 6th, 2018]
- Hypothalamic disease - Wikipedia - August 23rd, 2018 [August 23rd, 2018]
- Hypothalamus - Scholarpedia - September 8th, 2018 [September 8th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus | Definition of Hypothalamus by Merriam-Webster - September 8th, 2018 [September 8th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Function ... - September 20th, 2018 [September 20th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus - Radiology - September 20th, 2018 [September 20th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus - Anatomy, Nuclei and Function | Kenhub - October 5th, 2018 [October 5th, 2018]
- How does the hypothalamus control appetite? | Endocrine ... - October 13th, 2018 [October 13th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus: The Body's Thermostat | Ask A Biologist - November 9th, 2018 [November 9th, 2018]
- Thalamus - Wikipedia - November 9th, 2018 [November 9th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus Hormones | Function of the Hypothalamus Gland - December 12th, 2018 [December 12th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus - New World Encyclopedia - December 12th, 2018 [December 12th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus | Psychology Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia - December 12th, 2018 [December 12th, 2018]
- Stria terminalis - Wikipedia - December 19th, 2018 [December 19th, 2018]
- Functions, Hypothalamus Hormones and Disorders - Health Jade - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus | You and Your Hormones from the Society for ... - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus - Wikipedia - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- hypothalamus | Definition, Anatomy, & Function | Britannica.com - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- hypothalamus | Definition, Anatomy, & Function ... - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- Hypothalamus - Function, Hormones, and Structure - March 7th, 2019 [March 7th, 2019]
- 6 Natural Ways to Boost Hypothalamus Function - Dr. Axe - March 10th, 2019 [March 10th, 2019]
- HYPOTHALAMUS | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary - March 18th, 2019 [March 18th, 2019]
- Adrenal Cortical Hormones and Derivatives Market Analysis Of Growth, Trends Progress And Challenges Till Upcoming Year - QbnNews - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- Narcolepsy Treatment Market: Worldwide Prospects, Share, Crucial Players, Size, Competitive Breakdown and Regional Forecast 2025 - Analytics News - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Progress Toward Diagnosis and Treatment, Finally? - American Council on Science and Health - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment Market to be at Forefront by 2017 2025 - NewsVarsity - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- Saniona reports positive Tesomet Phase 2a clinical results in adolescent patients with Prader-Willi syndrome - GlobeNewswire - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- How Bullying May Shape Adolescent Brains - thesuntimesnews.com - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- Nasal spray could help control appetite, burn fat and reduce weight - ScienceBlog.com - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- High Fat Foods Likely To Affect Hypothalamus In Brain - Market Research Diary - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- High-fat diets change your brain, not just your body - Big Think - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- Two Studies Fail to Replicate Magnetogenetics Research - The Scientist - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- Brain Pathway That Lets Us Forget 'Unnecessary Memories' Found - News18 - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- While You're Sound Asleep, Your Brain Removes 'Unnecessary' Memories - Interesting Engineering - September 22nd, 2019 [September 22nd, 2019]
- 9 ways to improve your brain fitness - INTHEBLACK - October 5th, 2019 [October 5th, 2019]
- Biological Weathering and Its Deadly Effect on Black Mothers - Self - October 5th, 2019 [October 5th, 2019]
- Depression: The new-found friend of people who work in shifts - TheHealthSite - October 5th, 2019 [October 5th, 2019]
- Exploring the stress-mood-appetite connection - Baylor College of Medicine News - October 5th, 2019 [October 5th, 2019]
- Curious Kids: why does my older sister not want to play LEGO with me anymore and stays in her room? - The Conversation AU - October 5th, 2019 [October 5th, 2019]
- Current advances in research in treatment and recovery: Nicotine addiction - Science Advances - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Advances in understanding addiction treatment and recovery - Science Advances - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- The link between stress and depression and the 10 simple words that could help - The Guardian - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Stress Is Killing You For Real! Here is How to Deal with It - The DC Post - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Mother Nature's Little Blue Pill? The Science of Cannabis and Sex - L.A. Weekly - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Caltech And Allen Institute Scientists Discover Distinctive Sex-Specific Brain Cells In Mice - International Business Times - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Gender-Specific Brain Cells Have Just Been Discovered Inside The Brains of Mice - ScienceAlert - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Why Food Tastes Better When Were Hungry Researchers Find Neural Circuit in the Hypothalamus - SciTechDaily - October 18th, 2019 [October 18th, 2019]
- Global SomatostatinAnalogs Market Report to Share Key Aspects of the Industry with the details of Influence Factors - Market Research Writeup - October 21st, 2019 [October 21st, 2019]
- 'Below Deck': Why Is Drinking Alcohol in Thailand Getting the Crew and Guests so Drunk? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet - October 21st, 2019 [October 21st, 2019]
- Research Fellow - School of Biological Sciences job with UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN | 183890 - Times Higher Education (THE) - October 21st, 2019 [October 21st, 2019]
- Study: Why Food Tastes Better When You're Hungry - International Business Times - October 21st, 2019 [October 21st, 2019]
- Overeating may change the brain - WNDU-TV - October 21st, 2019 [October 21st, 2019]
- Can a new generation of weight-loss drugs finally help patients win at the losing game? - National Post - October 27th, 2019 [October 27th, 2019]
- Mood food: On the effect of diet on depression - Telegraph India - October 27th, 2019 [October 27th, 2019]
- Alternative approach to understanding consciousness may crack the mystery - Inverse - November 8th, 2019 [November 8th, 2019]
- Melania Trump visits hospital's 'cuddle' program for babies exposed to opioids in the womb - Yahoo Lifestyle - November 8th, 2019 [November 8th, 2019]
- Seasonal Affective Disorder: How the weather can cause 'hibernation' - BBC News - November 8th, 2019 [November 8th, 2019]
- Melania Trump visits hospital's 'cuddle' program for babies exposed to opioids in the womb - msnNOW - November 8th, 2019 [November 8th, 2019]
- Is sexual orientation genetic? Yes and no, an extensive study finds - Haaretz - November 18th, 2019 [November 18th, 2019]
- The problem of depression increases in winter, follow these steps to avoid it - News Track English - November 18th, 2019 [November 18th, 2019]
- A good night's sleep is a priority everything else comes after - The Badger Herald - November 18th, 2019 [November 18th, 2019]
- Exactly what and when to eat before and after a workout, according to a dietitian - Evening Standard - November 18th, 2019 [November 18th, 2019]
- From winter vagina to heart attacks and bad skin the 8 health dangers of cold weather - The Sun - December 8th, 2019 [December 8th, 2019]
- Researchers discover why youre skipping the gym for Netflix and sleep - The CEO Magazine - December 8th, 2019 [December 8th, 2019]
- 'Small things every day' can retrain your brain to cope with stress - Stuff.co.nz - December 8th, 2019 [December 8th, 2019]
- Women who take the Pill every day have a smaller brain region called the hypothalamus - Herald Publicist - December 8th, 2019 [December 8th, 2019]