Thanks to Daylight Saving Time, we now have more sunlight later in the day, but DoctorsCare has some tips on what to do about the negative effects it could have on your health.
Disrupted sleep cycle
- When you “spring forward,” your body needs to adjust to going to sleep earlier, which causes sleeplessness the next day.
- Sleep disruptions affect memory, performance, and concentration levels.
What to do:
- Expose yourself to sunlight as soon as you wake up.
- Avoid caffeine or other stimulants after lunch. These can affect wakefulness during the transition.
- Try not to nap during the day since napping can decrease your ability to sleep at night.
A toll on your heart
- A recent study found that daylight savings time transitions may be tied to an increased risk of a common type of stroke.
- The chance of stroke cases caused by a clot blocking the blood flow to the brain was 8 percent higher during the first two days after the daylight saving time transition.
What to do:
- Here again, the risk of stroke is tied to sleep deprivation and changing sleep habits. The same can be said for a shift change at work, which can have the same effect.
- Adjust your sleep habits as listed above.
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT DAYLIGHT SAVING:
- You get to enjoy more daylight later in the day!
- Less crime! Research shows that robbery rates after daylight saving time falls as much as 27%.
- Save energy! Since you get more daylight, you use less energy using artificial light. Impact on overall cost of energy consumption.
At DoctorsCare, our providers are specifically trained in Urgent Care and Emergency Medicine. Visit one of our two conveniently located offices in Clarksville. We accept walk-in patients of all ages during all hours of operation. No appointment is necessary! Walk in, feel better!