LIMA, OH (WLIO) - At 2 a.m. on March 8, people are asked to move their clocks forward one hour as daylight saving time begins. While it only takes minutes to spring forward the clocks in your home, adjusting your internal clock can be more difficult — especially for those already dealing with sleep deprivation.
Lima Memorial Health System’s Sleep Center Medical Director Dr. Abdul Basit says the loss of one hour of sleep can have a noticeable impact, particularly in a culture where many people are already not getting enough rest.
“Our body and mind is very finely aligned with the sunlight. Okay, so in winter time, the sunlight is already less and less, and now on, all of a sudden, you are going out of sync from the circadian rhythm,” says Dr. Abdul Basit, Lima Memorial Sleep Center.
As clocks move forward and daylight extends further into the evening hours, Basit says the body’s circadian rhythm — its natural sleep-wake cycle — can be disrupted.
Research shows that in the days following the time change, there can be an increase in traffic accidents as drivers operate vehicles while fatigued. Basit also notes potential health and mental health concerns linked to the shift.
“We know that some studies have shown that in this period, there is upwards of 300,000 more strokes that are seen nationwide. So, the risk of strokes, the risk of heart attacks, goes up. Mood disorders for people who are depressed or very anxious, it raises the anxiety level and depression,” says Dr. Basit.
Adjusting to the new time does not happen overnight.
“We know from studies that to adjust to a new circadian rhythm, it takes about 15 to 30 days for mind, our human mind, to adjust to the new time. Okay, so that's the minimum that is needed. It cannot happen overnight,” adds Dr. Basit.
Basit says prioritizing sleep is especially important during the transition. That includes establishing a consistent bedtime routine and limiting exposure to electronic devices before bed.
“It's better to shut them off about an hour before your scheduled bedtime, so that cannot be more important than it is right now to not be exposed to the blue range light, because that causes, again, your brain cells to get active, and instead of going to sleep,” says Dr. Basit.
As residents spring ahead, health experts encourage everyone to be mindful of their sleep habits and give their bodies time to adjust.
