Increased Risk of Heart Attacks
Increased Risk of Miscarriage
Risk of miscarriage has also been found to increase during the weeks immediately after DST starts, especially for women who have had previous miscarriages and are undergoing IVF. A study from Boston Medical Center researchers found that rates of miscarriage were higher for these women, whose embryos were transferred within three weeks of the spring time change, compared to rates for the rest of the year.
Increased Risk of Depression and Suicide
Some researchers point the finger at DST for an increase in depression and suicides, especially for men, in the days following the time change. A Danish study found an 11 percent increase for up to 10 weeks after clocks were set forward one hour. An Australian study found significant increases in suicides for men during both the fall and spring time changes.
The Time Change Makes You Tired (Duh!)
Pregnant Women Can Experience Fatigue
Pregnant women, especially those in the late weeks of pregnancy, may especially feel the effects of DST on their bodies. The fatigue that comes with pregnancy is compounded by the loss of an hour in the spring.
Increased Stroke Risk
The risk for stroke increases in the days after setting clocks forward and losing an hour of sleep. Research out of Finland reports that stroke rates in that country were higher, on average, the two days after DST starts. Interestingly, the rate also went up after the fall time change, when we get an extra hour of sleep. Bodies apparently really, really like their routines.
We Waste More Time
In the days following the time shift, we sometimes lose our ability to focus at work. When we're tired, our bodies also notice it's really, really time for lunch or to go home for the day. A 2012 study in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that sleep-deprived workers spend more time "cyberloafing" (pretending to do work). And there's no more tired workforce than the one on Monday after the spring time change.
