Thread by @GrahamCarlos

Did you know Daylight Savings Time is bad for your health?

💔Spring forward increases heart attack risk
✈️DST induces "social jet lag"
😰Social jet lag worsens depression
🧭Westward living in a time zone (Indiana) is worst

So why do we do it and what should we do now?

A 🧵

DST was created by an Entomologist 🐞 (George Hudson)

He did this because he wanted more time to collect insects after his shift-work job at the post office!

Similar to needing more time to mow my lawn after work...but what about the health considerations?

Several countries implemented DST during WW1 including 🇬🇧 and 🇩🇪

The practice aimed to cut artificial lighting use so troops could conserve fuel for the war. But the 🇺🇸 didn't standardize the system until 1966, when it passed the Uniform Time Act.

In 2005, President Bush extended DST an extra four weeks, officially taking effect in 2007.

There's a move in Congress to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. The Sunshine Protection Act passed the Senate on March 15, 2022, by unanimous consent.

Why is this bad for our health?

The @AASMorg has recommended that these seasonal time changes should be abolished in favor of a fixed, national, year-round standard time.

Europe just voted to abolish DST in 2021!

Why?

jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jc…

Light is the a zeitgeber, or cue, to the regulation of our circadian rhythm.

DST results in more darkness in the morning and more light in the evening. The chronic misalignment between the timing of demands of work, school, etc against the circadian rhythm is “social jet lag.”

Social jet lag is associated with:

- Obesity
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Depression

The "spring forward" shift to DST is particularly bad...

Spring forward is associated with:

- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Atrial fibrillation
- Hospital admissions
- Auto accidents

These stem from increased body inflammation from decreased sleep.

If you live in the westernmost part of your time zone (like I do in Indiana) it is worse!

So what to do?

1. Healthcare workers need to advocate against DST as the @AASMorg has done

2. Schools need to consider the impact of DST on children (and parents) and adjust start times accordingly

3. States like Indiana should abolish DST

4. The public should use caution on habitual melatonin use and talk to their physician as it can cause increased am fatigue (I stopped doing this!)

5. Good sleep hygiene is critical for all of us under the "rule" of DST - avoid screens before sleep, limit caffeine late in day...

6. Our kids need to sleep! It is critical for brain development and synthesizing new information. Parents know how hard it is to put them down in daylight and get them up in the dark!

Let's get #Indiana back to EST and drop the DST! Who is with me?

Will be on @WISH_TV with @DrMaryGillis soon to discuss this. Hope to talk about it more with @GovHolcomb @ToddYoungIN @SenatorBraun and whoever else will listen.