Studies done by the National Institute of Health and other resources prove there are measurable health effects associated with the daylight savings time shift. In addition to risks to your physical health, mental well-being, and public safety, some of the effects of the Daylight Savings Time include…
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Sleep Disruption
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Fatigue
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Changes in Blood Pressure
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Abnormal Heart Rhythms
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Mood Disturbances
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Increased Heart Attacks & Strokes
Why does this happen? You are healthiest when your sleep-wake cycle aligns with the sun. When you switch to Daylight Savings in the summer, you increase the amount of sunlight you are exposed to. When you switch off Daylight Savings, you decrease that amount. This messes with your circadian rhythm and sleep schedule as well as the amount of vitamin D you get naturally from the sun. Ultimately, these changes affect your overall health.
What can you do about it? As always, be sure to take care of yourself: eat healthy, exercise, and aim for eight hours of sleep per night. You may consider planning ahead to adjust your bedtime slowly versus all at once when the time change occurs. When you have the chance, try to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
Because you live in a state that can have cold, dark winters, strongly consider supplementing your diet with Vitamin D3. The recommended dosage for winter would be 5000iu per day. This may not only help to build and strengthen your immune system through the winter, it may also help ward off any “winter-blues” that can affect your mental health. Vitamin D3 is very inexpensive and has a small gel cap that is easy to take, so there are no reasons not to try it.