Health impacts of the U.S. “spring forward” this Sunday

Most of U.S. will spring forward Sunday, losing an hour at 2 a.m. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on March 10, causing clocks to jump forward and eliminating one hour of sleep for most of the country [1].

Hour loss disrupts circadian rhythm, raising health risks. Darker mornings and extra evening light shift the body’s master clock, leading to sleep disturbances that can last weeks and are linked to higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, and traffic fatalities in the days after the change [1].

Morning sunlight helps reset the internal clock. Experts advise getting early‑day sunshine, moving dinner or exercise earlier, and limiting evening light from screens and caffeine to ease the adjustment and support healthier sleep patterns [1].

One‑third of U.S. adults already lack sufficient sleep. Roughly 33 % of adults do not achieve the recommended seven hours per night, so the additional hour loss poses a greater challenge for many people [1].

Several states and territories exempt from the spring switch. Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands remain on standard time year‑round, avoiding the clock change [1][4].

Legislative attempts to end the time change continue. Former President Donald Trump pledged to eliminate daylight saving time [6]; the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act aims to make DST permanent but has stalled, while health groups such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine favor permanent standard time for better alignment with human biology [7][1].