The Dangers of Daylight Savings Time

Studies find increase in heart attacks, traffic accidents and workplace injuries; Loyola sleep expert offers tips for coping with Sunday's Time Change

Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 14, and the time change can be hazardous for your health. On average, people go to work or school on the first Monday of Daylight Savings after sleeping 40 fewer minutes than normal. And studies have found there's a higher risk of heart attacks, traffic accidents and workplace injuries on the first Monday of Daylight Savings.

"Many people already are chronically sleep-deprived, and Daylight Savings Time can make them even more tired for a few days," said Dr. Nidhi Undevia, medical director of the Sleep Program at Loyola University Health System.

Undevia offers these tips for getting enough sleep after moving the clock forward an hour: -- In the days before the time change, go to bed and wake up 10 or 15 minutes earlier each day. -- Don't nap on the Saturday before the time change. -- To help reset your internal body clock, expose yourself to sunlight in the morning as early as you can.

Loyola offers a comprehensive and multidisciplinary program to help identify and treat sleep disorders. The sleep laboratory and sleep clinic diagnose and treat a full range of sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep walking, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, circadian rhythm disorders, restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorders. 

Jim Ritter
Senior Manager
Media Relations
Loyola University Medical Center
jritter@lumc.edu
708-216-2445 (Office)
708-216-7981 (Fax)Media Contact:
Jim Ritter, Loyola Media Relations
708-216-2445 (office)
708-441-7728 (Cell)
jritter@lumc.edu