Daylight saving time is a burden on health

Summer time: Time change causes health problems

03/23/2015

The coming weekend is the day again: Summer time begins. During the night from Saturday to Sunday, the clocks will be presented one hour from 02.00 to 03.00. Time change is a health burden for many people. For years, experts have been calling for the elimination of the twice-yearly time change.

Health problems due to time change
Summertime starts next weekend. On the night of March 28-29, the clocks will be presented for an hour. In 1980, summer time was introduced in Germany for reasons of energy saving. The idea behind it was that less lighting and therefore less power would be consumed when the day was one hour ahead „shifts“. Meanwhile, however, studies are accumulating in which negative effects of the time difference are highlighted. For the human body, the time change poses a health risk. Many people suffer during the acclimation phase of symptoms such as tiredness, sleep disorders, headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability and dizziness. For years, more and more experts are calling for the abolition of the time change.

Displeasure in the population
Even with the population, the time change is not very popular, so the preliminary results of a survey of „Hamburger Abendblatt“. In the online survey, about 70 percent of participants said that the time change was unnecessary and therefore should be abolished. However, this will not happen in the short term and so in the night from Saturday to Sunday as before, the clocks are presented by one hour. On the biorhythm, this shift has a not to be underestimated influence, which in turn can be associated with health impairments. Experts therefore advise to get used to the body a few days before the time change to the time lag, for example, by adjusting the bedtime accordingly.

More heart attacks after the time change
The health risks associated with the changeover to time, according to the announcement of the „Hamburger Abendblatt“ for example, the increased risk of a heart attack. For example, a long-term study conducted by DAK Gesundheit from last year showed that in the first three days after the time change, 25 percent more patients with heart problems are admitted to the hospital than the annual average. „We have been watching this development for several years“, becomes the hospital expert Peter Rowohlt of the „Hamburger Abendblatt“ cited. As a cause, among other things, the lack of sleep and the shift of biorhythms by the time change is suspected. The hormone balance gets mixed up and the risk of cardiovascular discomfort increases. „The accumulation in more than half a decade is conspicuous and supports a Swedish study that has come to the same observation“, cite that „Hamburger Abendblatt“ the statement of the expert on the DAK study from last year. Rowohlt recommends going to bed a little earlier, just a few days before the time change, so that the biorhythm can slowly adjust to the time difference.

The time difference poses considerable difficulties for children
According to the information „Hamburger Abendblatt“ From other studies it is clear that the change of time is a particular problem for children. According to a study by the Heidelberg University of Education, the 12- to 18-year-olds would need almost three weeks to get used to the time change. They were increasingly bad-tempered and unbalanced. Also, accompanying factors of the abrupt changeover could be a drop in performance at school and chronic fatigue.

Impairment of road safety
Last but not least, the time change also has an impact on road safety. Thus, the Auto Club Europe (ACE) warns of rising accident numbers. After the time change up to 30 per cent more accidents are to be observed compared to the seven days before the time difference, reports that „Hamburger Abendblatt“ citing the ACE. Until the body has adjusted to the new rhythm, a few days are required. As long as motorists had increasingly to fight with fatigue and corresponding lack of concentration.

Shifting of biorhythms also in animals
Since many animals are dependent on humans, they also feel the effects of the time change. However, often more consideration is given here than in the human working world. For example, in the dairy industry, milking times are adjusted in five-minute increments to avoid drastic shifts in milking rhythm. Also for pets, experts recommend comparable measures, for example during feeding. The biorhythm of the four-legged friends should be gradually accustomed to the time difference, reports that „Hamburger Abendblatt“ citing Birgitt Thiesmann of the organization Four Paws. Already one week before the time change, gradual adjustments of the fixed eating, sleeping and eating times are appropriate. There could be a shift of ten minutes every day, so that the biorhythms of dogs, cats and co. Have enough time to change.

Growing criticism of the time change
The above-mentioned problems with the time change are cited by critics as relevant arguments for the abolishment of the winter and summer time. In addition, this had not fulfilled its purpose, since no significant energy savings were recorded by the supposedly better use of daylight. However, the time change is today common practice in more than 60 countries worldwide. All EU countries have summer time since 1996 and every year the clocks are back one hour on the last Sunday in October and another hour on the last Sunday in March. Whether in the coming years, in view of the increased criticism, an abolishment of the time change is to be expected, remains open despite the quite convincing arguments. (fp, ad)