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Summer time ade? This is how it endangers our health!
Experts warn of health risks of changing the time as daylight saving time ends in Europe. What consequences does this have for us?
Summer time ade? This is how it endangers our health!
Next Sunday it's that time again: summer time ends and the clocks go back one hour! But the looming shadows of this time change raise questions. Health experts warn urgently about the possible consequences for our well-being and call for a rethink.
As usual in many places, the time change is now also taking place in several European countries. This practice, which causes confusion in spring and fall, could pose serious health risks. A team of sleep researchers from the British Sleep Society have addressed these concerns and are calling on the UK government to scrap the time change. They recommend adopting standard time year-round as it harmonizes better with our natural light-dark cycles.
The alarming consequences of the time change
What's behind these health warnings? The circadian rhythm, our biological clock, is severely disrupted by the time change. Studies show that the time difference increases the risk of heart attacks in the weeks following the change. Researchers from Finland even found that the number of hospitalizations for strokes skyrocketed after the time change. Psychological problems and mood swings, particularly in vulnerable people, are also becoming more common due to the time change - sad signs that cannot be ignored.
The scientists emphasize that the morning contact with sunlight is crucial to keep our inner rhythm in balance. Without this natural influence of light, the possibility of sleeping relaxing can be significantly restricted. "The change of time destroys our routine," warns Dr. Megan Crawford from the University of Strathclyde. An earlier sunrise in summer may seem more bearable, but the cold reality of autumn and spring often brings us out of bed in the dark - a recipe for sleep problems and health disorders.
The health experts advocate more information. Many people faithfully believe that they can enjoy more daylight through summer, but the sun stays the same. The European Commission had brought the time to be abolished in 2018, but politicians are hesitating, despite the overwhelming majority of supporters in the EU. So it remains exciting whether the end of the time change is really at the door.