According to cardiologist Adriana Quiñones, from the NYU Langone hospital, the time change for the summer season that begins on Sunday may have consequences.
“By changing the time and losing an hour of sleep, many people take time to adjust to the change and do not sleep, it also affects their sleep cycle,” said Dr. Quiñones.
The doctor added that long-term sleep disorder is the main factor for high blood pressure, a condition for which she says she treats most of her patients.
“And in the short term it has been found in some studies that the incidence of heart attacks has increased around these time changes, especially when the time changes in the spring that an hour of sleep is lost,” said the doctor.
Dr. Quinones.
To adjust to the time change, Dr. Quiñones recommends:
- Sleep at least 15 minutes earlier than normal, days before the time change.
- Get up 15 minutes earlier than normal.
- Go out to sunbathe during the first days after the time change to adjust the body to the new cycle
The city’s Transportation department posted a message on social media about the time change and some risks.
“#DaylightSavingTime starts this Sunday 12/3 ⏰. We’ll bring spring forward and lose an hour of sleep.
“Science shows that loss of 😴 and dark mornings make the coming week especially dangerous. #LookGood and stop for pedestrians and cyclists,” the message read.
#DaylightSavingTime begins this Sunday 3/12 ⏰. We’ll spring forward and lose an hour of sleep.
Science shows that loss of 😴 & dark mornings makes next week especially dangerous. #LookClosely and stop for pedestrians and cyclists. #VisionZero pic.twitter.com/6bnpE9lQuY
— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) March 10, 2023
Some New Yorkers say that the time change should not be a part of their lives as they say it takes a toll on their health and mood.
“One is tired, grumpy because they took an hour of sleep from one and well, that’s not good for the body,” said Jorge Santín.
In 2022, the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would eliminate the time change that has been in place since 1918, leaving only Daylight Saving Time. The proposal is still under debate after not being approved by the House of Representatives.
According to a study from the University of Colorado published in 2020, in the first weeks of the daylight saving time change, the risk of traffic accidents increases by 6 percent due to driver fatigue. The data analyzed showed that the change causes 28 additional deaths each year.
In countries like Mexico where Alejandra Suárez is from, next year they will eliminate the time change, a decision that according to her is the best.
“Yes, because I’ve gotten used to my sleeping schedule and it’s hard to get used to the same routine again,” said Alejandra.
