{
  "id": 16657222,
  "title": "How daylight saving time changes affect you and what you can do about it",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/how-daylight-saving-time-changes-affect-you-and-what-you-can-do-about-16657222",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T20:40:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-daylight-affect.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Daylight saving time in the United States ends on Sunday at 2 a.m. local time, when clocks are set back one hour. This change means an extra hour of sleep for most Americans, but also darker afternoons as standard time returns. Despite this, many people find the spring shift from daylight saving time to standard time harder to adjust to, losing an hour of sleep that they allegedly recover in the fall. Health groups, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have long advocated for adopting standard time year-round. They argue that it aligns better with the sun's rising later in the winter and human biology, known as the circadian rhythm. Brighter mornings and less light at night support this rhythm, making it easier to wake up on time and maintain healthy sleep patterns. The brain's circadian rhythm, set by sunlight and darkness, determines sleep and wakefulness cycles. Exposure to morning light helps sync this internal clock, while evening light delays the surge of melatonin, a hormone that triggers drowsiness. Even a one-hour change in the clock can disrupt sleep schedules, as work and school start times remain the same. After the spring shift, darker mornings and lighter evenings can make it harder to fall asleep at the desired time, potentially leading to increased car crashes and heart attacks during the first few days. The fall and winter can exacerbate conditions like seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression linked to shorter days and less sunlight. While most Americans easily adjust to clock changes like jet lag, those with irregular sleep patterns or sleep deprivation face added pressure. About one-third of U.S. adults sleep less than seven hours nightly, and more than half of teens don't get the recommended eight hours on weeknights. Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with heart disease, cognitive decline, obesity, and other health issues. Despite health recommendations, attempts to end the time change have failed in the past, with the latest being the Sunshine Protection Act in July, which would make daylight saving time permanent. President Trump supports the idea, and the bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming support, but opponents remain.",
  "summary": "An extra hour of sleep is on the way for most Americans, though the \"fall back\" to standard time will bring darker afternoons, too.",
  "key_points": [
    "Daylight saving time ends Sunday at 2 a.m., giving Americans an extra hour of sleep.",
    "Health groups advocate for year-round standard time to align with circadian rhythm.",
    "Disruption in sleep patterns after the change can lead to increased car crashes and heart attacks."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}