Time springs forward this weekend and that will bring an hour less of sleep. With a disruption to the circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock, the shift during Daylight Saving Time could have negative health impacts. Sleep researcher Dr. Heinrich Gompf at UC Davis Health says between a quarter and a third of the population feels a little “down” for the first few weeks following the switch to Daylight Saving Time. That’s because springing forward brings darker mornings and our bodies crave morning sunshine. Dr. Gompf also says emergency rooms see an increase in cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, stroke and fatal car accidents in the week following the time change.
