Here’s how Daylight saving time could affect your health

We spring forward Sunday

This weekend we spring forward. Daylight saving time is here, but not everyone thinks moving our clocks twice a year is a good move. Some Metro Detroit doctors believe it can affect your health.

Recently there has been a new push nationally and locally to stop clocks changing twice a year. Senator Marco Rubio introduced legislation to continue Daylight saving permanently. According to our clocks, the sun rises later and sets later, giving us more daylight in the evening hours.

Senator Jeff Irwin introduced legislation in Michigan to keep us on the summer schedule year-round.

“Twice a year, we volunteer Michiganians for more car accidents and injuries at work,” said Irwin. “We see lower productivity and an increased number of heart attacks and strokes, as well as a noticeable uptick in general crankiness.”

When it comes to our health studies, they do show changing the clocks negatively affects our overall well-being.

“The health risks related to daylight savings time have to do with springing forward and becoming out of alignment with our internal clock, otherwise known as our circadian rhythm,” said Shelgikar. “And when that happens, that puts us at risk for car accidents. For hospital admissions, there’s a higher rate of medical errors. So, on a scientific level, we feel that permanent standard time is best for our health because it better aligns our internal clock with the sun.”

Watch the video above for the full story.


About the Authors:

Hank Winchester is Local 4’s Consumer Investigative Reporter and the head of WDIV’s “Help Me Hank” Consumer Unit. Hank works to solve consumer complaints, reveal important recalls and track down thieves who have ripped off people in our community.

Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.