By Harshit, WASHINGTON, Nov. 1
For over a century, Americans have adjusted their clocks twice a year — once in the spring to “save” daylight, and again in the fall to bring it back. But as mounting scientific evidence reveals serious health risks linked to this practice, the political debate around ending Daylight Saving Time (DST) remains mired in gridlock.
The Health Toll of Time Shifts
Sleep researchers and medical professionals have long warned that changing the clock disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm — the natural cycle that regulates sleep, metabolism, and mood. The abrupt loss of one hour each spring has been linked to higher rates of heart attacks, workplace injuries, traffic accidents, and even strokes.
According to a 2023 report by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the biannual time changes may have long-term consequences on mental health and productivity. “We are not designed to change our clocks twice a year,” said Dr. Beth Malow, a neurologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “The human circadian system does not adjust instantly, and this misalignment has ripple effects throughout our biology.”
Studies have also found that sleep deprivation and social jet lag caused by DST transitions increase risks for diabetes, depression, and obesity. The fall transition, when clocks move back an hour, can temporarily improve sleep duration — but it does not reverse the damage caused earlier in the year.
Public Support for Change, but No Consensus on How
Despite growing awareness of the health concerns, Congress has failed to reach agreement on whether to adopt permanent Standard Time or permanent Daylight Saving Time.
In 2022, Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. The measure passed unanimously in the Senate but stalled in the House, where lawmakers and health experts disagreed on the preferred time system.
Medical groups like the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Medical Association support permanent Standard Time, arguing it better aligns with the body’s natural rhythms and provides healthier morning light exposure. In contrast, proponents of permanent DST claim it would reduce energy use, prevent early-evening darkness, and improve economic activity.
A Nation Stuck Between Two Clocks
At present, Hawaii and most of Arizona have opted out of Daylight Saving Time entirely, remaining on Standard Time year-round. Other states — including Florida, California, and Washington — have passed their own laws to stay on Daylight Saving Time, but federal approval is still required.
As a result, most Americans continue the familiar ritual: resetting clocks twice a year, only to face sleepiness and confusion the following Monday. Polls show that nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults want to stop the clock changes — but they remain divided on which time to keep.
“Permanent Standard Time would promote better health,” said Dr. Joseph Takahashi, chair of neuroscience at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “But permanent DST is more politically popular. It’s a rare case where what’s popular may not be what’s healthiest.”
The Broader Context: Productivity and Public Safety
Experts warn that the economic and safety costs of clock changes are substantial. A 2021 study from the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management found that traffic fatalities increased by about 6% in the week following the spring shift. Workplace injuries also spike as employees operate on reduced sleep.
“Even a one-hour disruption can have cascading effects,” said Anne-Marie Chang, a sleep scientist at Penn State University. “The lack of synchronization with natural daylight can impact everything from classroom performance to cardiovascular health.”
A Change That Never Comes
While the debate drags on in Washington, millions of Americans will once again adjust their clocks this weekend — setting them back one hour as Standard Time resumes. The next round of complaints, petitions, and congressional proposals will likely follow soon after.
But as Dr. Malow put it, “It’s ironic that something as simple as an hour can be so hard to fix.”