Daylight savings can be detrimental to your health, doctor reveals

Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au.This week, Dr Zac Turner explores the benefits of daylight savings.QUESTION: Hi Dr Zac, the same conversation erupts every year in my family when daylight savings rolls around.

I love daylight savings, but they continue to come up with reasons why it’s not necessary.I am after some new ways to convince them.

Surely there must be some health benefits to having more sunlight? Are there any medical benefits to daylight savings, as I certainly love “springing forward” in spring and “falling back” in autumn? – Jason, 31, Ocean Shores, NSWANSWER: There is science to back up why daylight savings can be detrimental to your health.It’s all to do with one factor – one hour less of sleep.While an extra hour of daylight can offer some benefits, the loss of one hour of sleep, even temporarily, may affect your physical and mental health.I’ll break down both the positive and negative aspects of daylight savings from a medical and wellness standpoint.When we “spring forward” by an hour, most of us lose an hour of sleep.

This disruption to your regular sleep routine can have significant implications for health, especially if you are already struggling with sleep quality.Research shows that even a small reduction in sleep can lead to a decrease in cognitive function, decision making ability and overall performance, especially in the first few days after the clock change.

It sounds like daylight savings is a policy that turns the population into Oscar the Grouch.Studies have demonstrated that losing an hour of sleep can impair brain function in the short term.A reduction in sleep affects the prefrontal cortex – the area responsible for executive function, decision making and attention.

It’s kind of like the maturity tank of your brain.As a result, individuals may experience reduced reaction times, poorer judgment and increased susceptibility to mistakes during everyday activities, includin...