Kenneth Wright.
With daylight saving time just around the corner鈥攊t officially kicks in at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 12鈥攊t's time to be careful out there.
Kenneth Wright says there鈥檚 an increased risk of fatal car crashes, heart attacks and strokes following the 鈥渟pring ahead鈥� daylight saving time shift. The 麻豆影院 professor and sleep expert in the Department of Integrative Physiology explains that this increased risk is thought to be due to people getting less sleep on Sunday night and waking up when their internal circadian clock is still signaling sleep time.
Wright says people can gradually shift their internal clock earlier by dimming the lights in their homes on Friday night a few hours before bedtime. When they awaken Saturday morning, they should get as much sunlight exposure as possible, perhaps starting the day with a walk outside.
In addition, they can go to bed 30 minutes earlier on Saturday and Sunday, Wright says.
This gradual shift should allow people to get more sleep during the daylight saving time change and awaken at a time that is better aligned with their internal clocks.
Reach Wright at kenneth.wright@colorado.edu. For further assistance contact Jim Scott in media relations at 303-492-3114 or jim.scott@colorado.edu.