An Hour Saved is An Hour Spent: How Daylight Saving Time Impacts Well-Being

If you live in the 48 states that will lose an hour on March 9, you’re likely bracing yourself for interrupted sleep and all the side effects that come with it, such as irritability and brain fog. The end of Daylight Saving Time marks the beginning of short-term sleep problems.?

According to a poll by the Associated Press NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 75% of Americans are in favor of eliminating? time changes twice per year, keeping the time the same all year long – and maintaining uninterrupted? sleep cycles.

The Trump Effect

They may finally get their wish: the promise to eliminate the one-hour time change may come to fruition. On Friday, December 13, 2024 then President-elect Donald Trump asserted that he would prioritize the goal of ending DST, thereby making standard time permanent. He stated, “Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our nation.”

Americans like his declaration. When asked how tired they feel after losing the hour in the spring, more than 55% of people responded “extremely or somewhat,” according to a poll by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Health Costs of DST

AASM Public Safety Committee Chair Dr. M. Adeel Rishi commented in a position statement, “By causing the human body clock to be misaligned with the natural environment, Daylight Saving Time increases risks to our physical health, mental well-being, and public safety. Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health.”

Dr. James A. Rowley, AASM president, stated, "Permanent standard time helps synchronize the body clock with the rising and setting of the sun. . This natural synchrony is optimal for healthy sleep, and sleep is essential for health, mood, performance, and safety."?

Evidence substantiates the adverse health risks of DST.? For example, a 2015 study found that chronic circadian misalignment increases anti-inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). More seriously,? a 2016 study tracking 9 years of circadian rhythm disruption from DST transitions found a correlation? with a higher risk of stroke as evidenced by increased hospitalizations for stroke incidents? within the first week following the DST change.

The Light Factor

The later sunset after Daylight Saving Time makes many people happy and excited that warmer weather is ahead.? But this may also create sleep disruptions and related well-being issues.

A study involving approximately 30,100 adults found that the hour gained in the spring was correlated with a brief increase in sleep disturbances, such as delayed sleep onset and intermittent awakenings.?

In addition, the increased light exposure affects the ability to fall asleep easily. Sleep expert Adam Spira PhD, MA, said, “Exposure to more light closer to bedtime makes it harder to fall asleep at our usual bedtime and can reduce the amount of sleep we’re able to get each night.”

Millions Seek Sleep Solutions

These post-change shifts in available hours are felt widely enough to spark curiosity about how to deal with their effects.

Researchers analyzed Google Trends data during DST changes between 2015 and 2020 and found an increase in search terms related to sleep – such as ‘insomnia’ and ‘melatonin.”

For now, DST will persist, as Americans (except those in Hawaii and Arizona) lose an hour on March 9.? Reflecting the Google trend analysis findings, melatonin supplementation can provide effective support for keeping the circadian rhythm in sync.

Mulling Over Melotime?

Melatonin is often the first choice when consumers seek natural sleep support. An inherent challenge with most melatonin supplements is that while they may shorten the time it takes to fall asleep, they are quickly metabolized, which interrupts smooth, sustained sleep.

Melotime?, a proprietary melatonin with sophisticated time-release technology, is released systematically over 8 hours of sleep, releasing not less than 50% of the dose in the first hour, with the subsequent dosage released every hour thereafter.

A recent study published in MDPI’s journal Pharmaceutics demonstrated the effectiveness of Melotime? in providing sustained-release melatonin. In this open-label, cross-over study with 16 healthy adults, participants were given either sustained-release or immediate-release melatonin, with a seven-day washout period between treatments. The results showed that Melotime? had a prolonged release and extended half-life compared to the immediate-release version. This consistent release helps maintain balanced melatonin levels, particularly during early morning hours, promoting better sleep quality and offering a more convenient and effective option for managing sleep cycles naturally.

As long as the practice of shifting time each year through daylight saving time persists, melatonin, notably Melotime?, can serve as a powerful tool to help healthy adults maintain sleep well-being.

Reviewed by Dr Sneha Sawant Desai, PhD