Will the End of Daylight Saving Time Affect Your Heart? A Doctor Offers Advice

When daylight saving time ends, the shift can disrupt the body’s rhythm, though the springtime loss of an hour is usually tougher on the heart. Another change in the clock is approaching, however, and experts say there are smart ways to handle it.

At the end of daylight saving time, clocks move back one hour, creating an extra hour in the day.

Doctors say that added 60 minutes should be used wisely.

Heart Health Tip of the Day: Use the Extra Hour to Sleep

The simplest move is to get more rest.

“Try to make use of the full extra hour, as research indicates folks only make use of about 60% of that extra time, averaging around 36 minutes of extra sleep,” Dr. Mike Varshavski, a family medicine physician, tells TODAY.com.

The Harvard Health Letter also notes that most people do not fully benefit from the extra hour, saying that “fall back” does not necessarily mean a true sleep gain.

Varshavski adds that gaining an hour of sleep is not harmful to the heart, especially in a sleep-deprived society, and may even help by reducing fight-or-flight activity, blood pressure and overall physical stress.

Why It Matters

Any clock change can affect the body’s circadian rhythm, or internal clock, and disrupt normal sleep patterns.

The spring shift, when clocks move forward and people lose an hour of sleep, has been linked to higher rates of heart attacks and strokes in the days that follow, according to the American Heart Association.

The move back to standard time tends to cause fewer negative effects and is considered more in sync with circadian rhythm, but it can still throw off routines for a few days.

That is why it helps to be gentle with yourself during the adjustment and expect things to feel slightly different.

How to Get Started

Varshavski recommends preparing ahead by shifting your bedtime routine by 10 to 20 minutes a few days before the time change.

He also says that when trying to keep a steady sleep schedule, it is often more effective to concentrate on wake-up time rather than bedtime alone.

As always, healthy eating, exercise and morning sunlight can help keep the body’s circadian rhythm on track.

“Think about health holistically. There are other healthy habits to conquer during this time,” Varshavski says.