Daylight saving time makes us jet lag every day, says Professor York

The switch from daylight savings time not only signals the end of summer time for the year, but also highlights ongoing concerns about its impact on public health. A large body of research shows various health risks associated with the spring time switch to daylight saving time.

Professor Patricia Lakin-Thomas of York University says the time is long overdue to make the summer time break permanent. As an expert studying the molecular and biochemical basis for circadian rhythmicity, she provides significant insight into how time changes affect the human body’s internal clocks. “When we move forward, we lose an hour of sleep and also move our social clock away from the sun, which our bodies want to follow. So it’s like getting an hour of jet lag every day. the body doesn’t adapt to it right away and it can actually lead to some negative health effects,” she says, according to Benzinga.

The negative health effects are not trivial. Professor Lakin-Thomas says daylight saving time contributes to higher car accidents, heart attacks, strokes and workplace injuries. These incidents are related to the disruption of the body’s natural circadian rhythms caused by the sudden change in time. Sleep loss and misalignment with the natural light-dark cycle can have immediate and serious consequences for individuals and society.

“People think it’s just an hour, but that hour is crucial,” explains Professor Lakin-Thomas. “Our body is fine-tuned to the time of sunrise and sunset. When we interfere with that by changing the clocks, there is a ripple effect on our health.” She points out that while the reduction offers some relief, the continued practice of adjusting the clocks twice a year continues to pose risks.

Professor Lakin-Thomas sits on the board of the Canadian Society for Chronobiology, which represents Canadian scientists working on circadian rhythms. The society demands that summer time be eliminated permanently. As part of their argument, they point to research that demonstrates the benefits of maintaining a constant standard time that closely aligns with solar time.

“Ideally we would all follow the sun, throw away our clocks and do what they did in the Middle Ages before we had regulated clocks, do what farmers do and rise with the sun. People in cultures without electricity don’t bother with watches. It would be ideal. We can’t do that, but we can get rid of daylight saving time,” noted Professor Lakin-Thomas, according to Benzinga.

The professor is available to comment on topics including social versus body clocks, why moving forward is so much harder than giving up, the importance of the first light of dawn in keeping internal clocks in sync, and the chronic and acute effects of an internal clock. unaligned. Her expertise sheds light on why the practice of changing the clock is more than a minor inconvenience.

York University, where Professor Lakin-Thomas conducts his research, is a modern, multi-campus urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Supported by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, the university offers a unique global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare students for success. York University’s Glendon Campus is home to the Southern Ontario Center of Excellence for French Language and Post-Secondary Bilingual Education. In addition, the university’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs.

Daylight saving time has been a topic of debate for years, with increased attention being paid to potential health risks. The higher incidence of accidents and medical events following the change of hours underscores the need for a reevaluation of this practice. Experts like Professor Lakin-Thomas advocate for policies that prioritize public health and align social time with the natural environment.

As the withdrawal date approaches, discussions about the impact of daylight saving time are gaining renewed urgency. The Canadian Society for Chronobiology’s call to eliminate the practice reflects a growing scientific consensus on the issue. By maintaining a constant standard time, it is possible to reduce the negative health outcomes associated with clock changes.

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“Adjusting our clocks twice a year puts an unnecessary strain on our bodies and our society,” says Professor Lakin-Thomas. “We have the evidence to support change. It’s time to prioritize health and wellness over outdated practices.”

The push to end daylight saving time is part of a larger movement to align human activities more closely with natural rhythms. Potential benefits include not only improved health outcomes, but also greater overall harmony between social structures and the environment. As awareness of the issue grows, so does the possibility of legislative action to make standard time permanent.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq