Daylight Saving Time: is it Healthy?

Ask anyone if they are tired on a routine day and you will get a resounding “Yes!” but this week we are all functioning on a sleep debt of (at least) one hour. “The Monday and Tuesday after moving the clocks ahead is associated with a 10 percent increase in the risk of having a heart attack," states Martin Young, an associate professor in the cardiovascular disease division at the University of Alabama. "The opposite is true when falling back in October. The risk decreases by about 10 percent."

This sleep debt also increases vehicle accidents by 6 to 10 percent due to “drowsy driving." According to the National Sleep Foundation, “60 percent of adult drivers (about 168 million) say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year and more than one-third, (about 103 million) have actually fallen asleep at the wheel. Four percent (about eleven million) admit they have had an accident or near accident because they dozed off or were too tired to drive.”

Most people know they should eat more veggies and fruit, drink more , most days of the week, eat less processed foods and white flour, , and sleep 7 to 8 hours a night, but admit they don’t follow these suggestions to maintain optimal health. In my experience with clients and in my own life: sleep is the first thing to go when life gets busy.

What could possibly be getting in the way of a good night’s sleep? Housework, working to meet a deadline, TV, inability to shut off the brain, too much caffeine or alcohol, the late night party or waiting for a family member to come home, the pets in your bed, the baby or hot flashes and bladder, etc… In fact, nearly 60 percent of Americans sleep fewer than the seven to eight hours a night and more than 15 percent slept less than six hours according to a recent Self.com poll.

I spoke to Donna Loring-Gosler, Assistant Manager at the in Milford about sleep. She described sleep as a major health necessity and encouraged readers to perform the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Loring-Gosler encourages readers to use this tool to start a discussion with a healthcare provider. She revealed “the health risks to poor sleep include an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiac arrythmias, , stroke, car accidents, weight gain and mood changes.”

Did she say Weight Gain? Yes. Most people know that eating 10 percent more calories a day can add pounds to the scale. Sleeping 10 percent less carries similar weight gain risks. Women who sleep fewer than five hours a night are one third more likely to gain 33 pounds over the next 16 years (American Journal of Epidemiology reports). In one study, those who cut their sleep from seven to five hours or fewer a night nearly doubled their risk of death from all causes. In particular, lack of sleep doubled the risk of death from cardiovascular disease (Whitehall II Study, 2007).

The National Sleep Foundation has all the tips you need for a great night sleep. Sleep needs vary with age (see the graph in photos). But what about these statements?

• If you wake up in the middle of the night, it is best to lie in bed, count sheep, or toss and turn until you eventually fall back asleep.
• The older you get, the fewer hours of sleep you need.
• Daytime sleepiness always means a person isn't getting enough sleep.
• Turning up the radio, opening the window, or turning on the air conditioner are effective ways to stay awake when driving.
• Snoring is a common problem, especially among men, but it isn’t harmful.

All myths. Get your sleep and if you aren’t - talk to your provider or seek a consult with one of the sleep specialists at the Sleep Center for a healthier future.