The effect of ending “daylight saving time” really hits home as darkness comes earlier, restricting outdoor activities. And in the morning, the time shift literally comes to light with an earlier sunrise.
On Sunday morning, “fall back” became official at 2 a.m., and everyone got that extra hour of sleep. For those with sleep disorders, that one-hour shift serves as yet another disruption to an ongoing health issue.
Not getting enough sleep has short-term effects on alertness and cognitive function. But over a long period of time, sleep deprivation can lead to significant health issues.
“Many times, you have to really hone in with a patient and ask what time they’re going to bed during the weekdays and during the weekends, how much sleep they’re getting, and ask questions about their quality of sleep,” explains Harneet Walia, M.D., director of sleep medicine and continuous improvement at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. “So, essentially the symptoms to recognize include daytime sleepiness, fatigue, impaired concentration, not able to work well, and so forth.
