Isadora Lilly- The Effects of Daylight Saving Time on your Health

It's the 100th anniversary of daylight saving time, as the law was originally enacted on March 19, 1918, by president Woodrow Wilson with the Standard Time Act, described as "An Act to preserve daylight and provide standard time for the United States." Despite having been repealed multiple times over the past century because of its unpopularity, yet also reenacted time and time again (in particular during war efforts), daylight saving time is now alive and more consistent than ever.

Although as time goes on, people have begun to wonder the extent of its purpose today, especially as studies show an increase of negative side effects caused by this change of the clocks. Different consequences include an impact on sleep patterns, causing possible struggles with memory, learning, social interactions, and cognitive performance in those who are sleep-deprived, increased risk of heart attack or stroke, and an increase of fatal motor vehicle accidents.

This reminds me of the bill which was passed by California legislature this June of 2018, allowing voters to end daylight saving time by referendum this November. This exhibits the principle of popular sovereignty which the United States has been founded upon since its creation, basing the nation on a democracy and giving the people a voice through elected representatives. This means that the population have a say, and as knowledge of the detrimental effects of daylight saving time on one's health come to light, some people are encouraging a final repealing of this law, attempting to exercise their citizenship with their right to vote.


https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/11/02/daylight-saving-time-how-hour-change-might-hurt-health-sleep/1856911002/