Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 12-3-21

Health
Did you know that setting your clocks back can affect your health?
As we are entering the first weeks of the clock falling back, you may start feeling a little different.
Don’t be alarmed; it’s com- pletely normal and you won’t feel that way forever.
You’re just dealing with the shift that comes after day- light saving time (DCST) ends –an experience that can sig- nificantly impact the way you think, move, live, and act.
Leaving DST has shown to
affect our mental and physical health –having the worst im- pact within the first three weeks of turning the clock back.
Studies have shown people dealing with a decrease in reg- ular sleep patterns and more rates of cardiac issues, cortisol production, stroke, and vehic- ular accidents as the body ad- justs to this time change.
Unusual Sleep Patterns Can Occur
You can expect to break out of your normal sleep rou-
tine and experience less sleep for the first five to seven days after DST.
If you are typically sleep- deprived, you may experience the most noticeable changes in your sleep patterns.
Some of the side effects in- clude lower cognitive per- formance, anxiety during social interactions, memory struggles, and learning defi- ciencies.
Decrease in Heart Attack or Stroke
According to the American Heart Association, heart dis- ease and stroke are leading causes of death for African Americans.
Unfortunately, a 2014 study showed that losing one hour of sleep can increase the risk of heart attack by 25%. The good news is that the risk of heart attack goes down by 21% when the clock falls back an hour.
Similar results have been
revealed when assessing the risk of stroke and disruption in sleep patterns.
Other Health Impacts to Be Aware Of
Various studies have shown the impact that setting the clock back or forward can have on car crashes.
When you account for vol- ume and driving activity, studies show no significant ef- fect on DST ending.
Be on the lookout for changes in your mood, too. If you’re living with depression, it’s extremely important to de- velop self-care habits that can counteract the winter blues.
Although many try to es- cape the depressing side ef- fects of time and seasonal changes with proper exercise, food, and rest, it’s hard to avoid the symptoms when you are living with a clinical disor- der known as Seasonal Affec- tive Disorder (SAD).
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
You may have felt the ef- fects of SAD but have no idea what your body was respond- ing to.
SAD, a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) that occurs seasonally, includes common depression-like symptoms such as anxiety, despair, isola- tion from social activities, lack of interest in regular activities, and limited focus.
Here are some tips to get your health back on track after daylight savings time ends:
- Don’t spend all your time indoors
- Expose yourself to more sun.
- Use the power of aro- matherapy to give your mood a boost.
- Maintain a good diet.
- Maintain a steady exer- cise routine.
- Adhere to a sleep sched- ule.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 11-B