(Clock - KIWA Staff Photo)Iowa (RI) — Iowans will need to turn their clocks back an hour before going to bed Saturday night as daylight saving time comes to an end.
Sleep experts say the annual time change can disrupt normal sleep patterns and may increase the risk of health and safety issues in the weeks that follow.
Eric Neumeister, a nurse practitioner in sleep medicine with Emplify Health by Gundersen, says the time change can interrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
Neumeister says it can take several weeks for some people to fully adjust. During that time, seasonal depression symptoms, fatigue, and other health concerns may become more common.
She says drivers should be especially cautious in the days following the time change because fatigue can affect reaction times and alertness.
Neumeister recommends easing into the time change by gradually adjusting sleep schedules and daily routines several days beforehand.
She also recommends adults continue getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night to help minimize the effects of the transition.
Emplify Health by Gundersen has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.
