Daylight Savings has been around for over 100 years. Despite the many reasons the government continues with the system, there’s plenty of evidence that changing the clocks by an hour can have a detrimental effect on our health.
Clock shifts disrupt our internal body clock. Studies have shown that, around the times of the spring clock change, there are spikes in suicide rates and an increase in the number of recorded heart attacks.
A century ago, we didn’t have data to tell us whether DST made a real measurable impact; it was acceptable to run with it because, for all we knew, it was useful.
It began during the First World War primarily to save fuel by reducing the need to use artificial lighting. Governments have since sold the idea of springing forward an hour in March and falling back another in November because it saves energy, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and reduces traffic accidents.
But if it does have a negative effect on our health, then surely that outweighs the small benefits it provides.
Comments