First published in the Nov. 5 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
CONTENT PROVIDED BY DIGNITY HEALTH GLENDALE MEMORIAL AND HEALTH CENTER
It’s time to “fall back” and change our clocks back one hour for daylight saving.
Daylight saving time is the practice of turning the clock back during fall and winter months as it becomes colder in order to make better use of daylight as it gets dark earlier in the day.
Adjusting the time by one hour may not seem like a big deal but sleep experts have noticed troubling trends that occur during these transition periods.
“People may experience insomnia, increased irritation, impaired decision making, difficulty focusing and some may even experience heart issues,” said Dr. Eli Hendel, pulmonologist and sleep specialist from Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center. “The brain has a circadian cycle that coordinates all body functions and it largely depends on light as an important signal.”
Physicians note that daylight saving time disrupts the natural adjustment of the human clock, which is important as it’s connected to changes in cardiovascular tone, steroid secretions and daytime wakefulness.
In the days and weeks leading up to time changes, you can prepare yourself for the adjustment by implementing the following:
• Practice good sleep hygiene
• Establish a consistent sleep routine
• Nap in moderation
• Don’t consume caffeine too close to bedtime
Founded in 1926, Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center is a 334-bed, acute care, nonprofit, community hospital located in Glendale, California. The hospital offers a full complement of services, including its award-winning heart center, the colorectal surgery institute, a gastrointestinal program, and is a Los Angeles County approved primary stroke center. The hospital shares a legacy of human kindness with Dignity Health, one of the nation’s five largest health care systems. Visit dignityhealth.org/glendalememorial for more information.
