Sleep medicine experts are urging the adoption of permanent standard time to protect public health as Americans prepare to “spring forward” on March 8. The majority of Americans (54%) are ready to eliminate seasonal time changes, a position that aligns with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time’s call to establish permanent standard time nationwide.
Seasonal clock changes have serious health and safety impacts. Losing an hour of sleep and disrupting the body’s sleep/wake rhythm can lead to an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, medical errors, cardiovascular events, and mood disturbances. The time change also leads to increased risk of stroke, hospital admissions, and production of inflammatory markers, one of the body’s responses to stress. According to Dr. Karin Johnson, sleep medicine physician and co-chair of the Coalition’s steering committee, “When we ‘spring forward’ for daylight saving time, we disrupt our body’s natural rhythm, damaging our sleep quality, mental health, and overall well-being. Even a one-hour change can have serious consequences for health and safety.”
Standard time aligns more closely with the sun and the body’s natural rhythms, supporting better sleep and alertness. During standard time, people experience more sunlight in the morning, allowing them to more easily wake up and feel energized. Standard time also promotes safer streets: permanent daylight saving time would lead to darker mornings, especially during winter, when sunrise in some parts of the U.S. wouldn’t occur until after 9 a.m., putting children at risk as they wait for buses or walk to school in the dark. According to a new AASM survey, public safety (32%) should be the top factor officials consider when passing time change legislation.
The Coalition for Permanent Standard Time, established in 2023, includes the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation, Save Standard Time, Sleep Research Society, and Society for Research on Biological Rhythms. For those observing the time change, the AASM recommends maintaining at least seven hours of sleep per night and gradually adjusting bedtime by 15-20 minutes each night a few days before the change.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.newswise.com/articles/sleep-experts-urge-adoption-of-permanent-standard-time-to-protect-public-health-as-americans-prepare-to-spring-forward/?sc=rsmn