Setting The Clock – How Does It Affect Us?

Two weekends each year, most people in the northern hemisphere make a time change. This means setting the clock either an hour forward or an hour back. This is actually an old idea, first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784. The idea is based on making the most of the hours of natural light. In 1784 it was also to reduce the consumption of candles / wax candles and oil lamps.

Despite this, it was not required by law to set the clock in most western countries until 1974. In Norway, we have had periods both with and without summer time. It has been common practice since 1980. And in 1996, Norway, together with all other EU countries, agreed that summer time applies from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October. After this, the time change has been valid. Now, however, it may seem as if 2019 will possibly be the last year we set our clocks.

Although some experts discuss the effectiveness of these time changes, this arrangement has become so deeply ingrained in our daily lives that it may seem strange to stop it abruptly. Whether the scheme is removed or continues, do we really know how these changes affect us? What does it do to our bodies to set the clock? We will answer that in this article.

How setting the clock affects your body

According to experts, it is not so easy for our bodies to adapt to time changes. Setting the clock one hour forward, or one hour back, changes the circadian rhythm in such a way that a number of negative effects can occur. These changes in the circadian rhythm occur mainly when you travel from one time zone to another. However, we can consider setting the clock as moving a time zone. It can be to the east (this is when we set the clock forward one hour) or to the west (when we set the clock back an hour).

Researchers have also discovered that other factors can affect your circadian rhythm. For example, these changes can occur if you sleep long on the weekends, or do not maintain an established sleep cycle. As such, although the effect of setting the clock forward or backward is noticeable, it is not an isolated problem.

Some of the most significant consequences of time changes are said to be the following:

• An increased probability of traffic accidents.
• An increase in the number of heart attacks.
• Several cases of depression.

Let’s go a little deeper into each of these points.

Increased probability of traffic accidents

One of the most surprising studies related to setting the clock was conducted in 1999 by Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University. In this study, they found that the possibility of experiencing a traffic accident increased by 5% on the Monday after we set the clock.

Another study, funded by the University of Colorado, found the results even more worrying. They found that the probability of traffic accidents increased by as much as 17%. Despite the fact that time has nothing to do with accidents, the data does not lie. But why is there such a high increase?

The increased likelihood of traffic accidents after a time change can be explained by a hormone called melatonin. This hormone is responsible for regulating the sleep cycle. It is one of the primary hormones that is responsible for making you feel awake and alert in the morning. As such, when there are sudden changes in the sleep cycle, you will feel more tired and less focused throughout the day.

2. An increase in the number of heart attacks

Similarly, a study from the University of Alabama in 2012 suggested that there was an increase in heart attacks in the three days following a time change. Other studies also point to a small increase in the number of strokes.

What is the cause of these phenomena? Obviously, losing an hour of sleep causes chaos in our bodies. There is an increase in cortisol, the immune system does not work as effectively as it normally does, and we also see a reduction in energy. These problems are not dangerous for the general population. However, in the case of people with a pre-existing risk of suffering such ailments, they can become catalysts for heart attack or stroke.

Several cases of depression

Finally, some studies show that time changes can also be related to seasonal depression. This condition is related to a lack of sunlight. This can affect both your mental and physical health.

When we set the clock, the number of hours you are exposed to sunlight will also change. On the other hand, these effects of time changes are often confused with the effects of an increase in temperature. However, there is no doubt that these changes require a habituation phase.