Study proves negative effect of summer time

Time change for humans even more resilient than suspected
Three days ago, the time was put back by one hour. Now, until the 27th of March 2016, the "winter time" applies, in which in the morning it turns out to be light in the morning, but rather dark in the evening. The conversion is difficult for many people, often it takes weeks for the body to get used to the new rhythm. The negative consequences of the time change are now confirmed by a recent study by the Office of Technology Assessment.
Health problems due to changed sleep-wake-rhythm
Severe fatigue, insomnia, headache, irritability or difficulty concentrating: Many people suffer from physical and mental discomfort in the first few days after the time change. Now, the extensive "balance-of-the-summer" opinion of the Office for Technology Assessment has shown that turning the clock back and forth seems to put even more strain on people than previously assumed.

A new study supports the thesis of unhealthy time change. Image: Thomas Reimer - fotolia

As reported by the "Rheinische Post", the unpublished report for the Bundestag's Research Committee would show that even four weeks after the changeover, the human biorhythm itself adapts "only incompletely or not at all".

Highlight of the cortisol distribution is postponed in the summer
The effect of the stress hormone "cortisol" is not dependent on the changed time, but on the sunrise. According to long-term measurements have shown that "the peak of cortisol release in the summer months has been delayed by one hour." Accordingly, the body is activated in the same position of the sun - although he gets one hour less sleep in the summer months, the report goes on.

In addition, the experts found little evidence of the originally planned savings in the energy sector. Because summertime was introduced in 1980 in order to be able to make better use of daylight after the oil crisis of 1973 and thus to save energy. Instead, however, only a reduction of less than 0.03 percent of a country's final energy consumption has been achieved, the paper continues. "Very low" with values ​​between plus 0.2 percent and minus 0.2 percent are also the effects of room heating.

"A decision whose utility is barely measurable and which has a negative impact on people's lives, should be corrected," said the deputy chairman of the CDU / CSU Workers Group in the Bundestag, Uwe Schummer, opposite the "RP". (No)