PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Spring moves forward, spring returns, and daylight saving time returns this weekend. That means we all lose an hour of sleep.
An hour of sleep may not seem like a big deal, but it has a significant impact on your health.
Setting the clocks forward an hour…good luck to the kids.
“It's going to be hard to wake them up,” said Dr. Daniel Shade, a sleep specialist at Allegheny Health Network. “Right now the clock says 8 o'clock, but that's their clock. Their body clock says no, it's 7 o'clock already. It's already hard to get up.”
Dr. Shade is not a fan of daylight saving time. Because our body's systems are timed to a standard time when the sun peaks at noon, and he sees the impact his hour has on his patients.
“You may feel a basic malaise, which means you don't feel well. You may feel pain. You're not getting enough sleep, you've lost an hour of sleep, so you're definitely feeling fatigued. “I can feel the sensation,” he explained.
He said serious effects could occur, including heart problems as well as depression and anxiety. He said heart attacks increase by about 25% on the Monday after the clocks move forward.
He also explained that the number of crashes increased immediately after the time change, and that it would not be resolved immediately.
“It can take up to five days, but you'll feel a little better after a few days,” Dr. Shade said.
The solution is simple – sunlight.
“Just getting outside is good for you, it's good for your health, and I think it helps you set your clock faster,” he said.
Dr. Shade suggested starting to adjust your sleep schedule now. A Sunday morning a few days in advance would be less of a shock to the system.
“Some patients who have actual sleep disorders or circadian rhythm disorders try to use melatonin at night and bright light therapy during the day,” Dr. Shade said.
He added that most people can overcome sleepiness in just a few days, but some people may take longer. The key is to focus on getting 7-9 hours of sleep right before and after the clocks change on Sunday morning.
While it may be difficult for some people, some patients describe the pain as if they had the flu, Dr. Shade said sunlight and bright light can help.
