By Marielis Acevedo
03 Nov 2023, 2:32 PM EDT
Early this Sunday, November 5, clocks in the United States will be turned back one hour to adjust to the 2023 winter time change.
Specifically, at 2 am on that day the summer time that began in March (“Daylight saving time”/DCT) ends, and the winter time takes off.
That is, the clocks will show 1 am instead of 2 am
As a result of the disruption, residents in most US states will gain an hour of sleep that day. That hour was the one they lost when the time change system moved the clocks forward on March 13.
Most smart electronic devices such as cell phones will switch automatically. If your computer is old, then it is advisable to make the change manually before going to sleep to wake up at the correct time.
The purpose of time changes is to make the most of sunlight and reduce energy consumption. In the summer months, as sunlight extends for more hours, the clock is set forward to better benefit from the resource.
However, not everything is positive regarding the change.
For years, doctors have warned of the effects of adjustment on the body.
Associate professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, Rajkumar Dasgupta, confirmed to CNN that the disorder can cause everything from sleep problems to cluster headaches. The expert explained that the connection between the time change and these episodes is due to the fact that the part of the brain that generates the clusters is also the portion of the brain that manages the circadian rhythms that are located in the hypothalamus.
Usually, people who suffer from migraines will be somewhat sleep deprived; or your sleep will be affected by the change, so the frequency of headaches will increase during that period.
“Despite being a seemingly small change, DST can significantly impact our circadian rhythm, which regulates our sleep cycle,” the expert explained.
Additionally, the doctor indicated that another effect of the change could be “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” which is characterized by short periods in which people feel sad or a little different than normal.
“Sometimes these mood swings begin and end when the seasons change. People may begin to feel down when the days get shorter in the fall and winter (also called “winter blues”) and begin to feel better in the spring, when there are more hours of sunshine,” their website explains. the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
“It is well documented that time change does not directly cause mental health conditions, but it can definitely affect a number of people with pre-existing conditions,” he argued.
Keep reading:
Time change in the United States: in which areas you should not adjust the clock and why
Time change in the United States: should I adjust my clock or does it automatically change to winter time?