Spring Forward, Health Back: How Daylight Saving Time Disrupts Your Body

Most of America “springs forward” Sunday for daylight saving time and losing that hour of sleep can do more than leave you tired and cranky the next day. Darker mornings and more evening light together knock your body clock out of whack — which means daylight saving time can usher in sleep trouble for weeks or longer. The ritual will reverse on Nov. 3 when clocks “fall back” as daylight saving time ends.Hawaii and most of Arizona don’t make the spring switch, sticking to standard time year-round along with Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Worldwide, dozens of countries also observe daylight saving time, starting and ending at different dates.Some people try to prepare for daylight saving time’s sleep jolt by going to bed a little earlier two or three nights ahead. The American Heart Association points to studies that suggest an uptick in heart attacks on the Monday after daylight saving time begins, and in strokes for two days afterward.