One of the hot topics that everyone is talking about this week is the negative effects of Daylight-Saving Time.
The practice of advancing clocks during warmer months so that darkness falls later each day began way back on April 30, 1916. Many countries have since used it, but despite it being a yearly tradition, it seems everyone keeps asking why we have daylight saving time (DST) in the first place if it is constantly the butt of jokes? More importantly, why do we even have it if it appears to be bad for our health?
The fact is, changing the clocks does not create extra daylight but instead shifts the time of sunrise and sunsets. This time change can cause disruptions to our body clock, otherwise known as the circadian rhythm.
Last year, even Premiere Legault called for abolishing DST, stating seasonal time changes should be abolished in favor of a fixed, national, year-round standard time.
And he has pointed out, many experts say the change does more harm than good.
A Swedish study, for example, found that the risk of having a heart attack increases in the first three weekdays after switching to DST in the spring— and apparently there are more workplace injuries and traffic accidents on the Mondays after we switch the clocks in the winter.
Meanwhile, a Danish study found an increase in depression after the time change and an Australian study found that male suicide rates increased the days after the spring and fall DST shift.
Not only does Daylight savings take a toll on mental health but it can cause sleep deprivation and although it was first introduced to save energy, the time change actually has the opposite effect.
