Daylight Saving Time Starts Soon in Idaho, Bringing Health Risks

Experts warn the one-hour time change can disrupt sleep, increase heart attacks and strokes.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Idahoans will soon set their clocks forward an hour for daylight saving time, adding light to their evenings but losing an hour of morning sunshine and sleep. Experts say the time change can wreak havoc on people's mental and physical well-being in the short term, leading to disrupted sleep, fatigue, and increased health risks like heart attacks and strokes.

Why it matters

The one-hour time shift forces the body out of its natural circadian rhythm, which regulates key functions like sleep, appetite, and mood. This disruption can have widespread impacts on physical and mental health, especially in the days immediately following the time change.

The details

Daylight saving time starts at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026, when clocks will skip ahead one hour. This means less morning light and more evening light. Experts say the circadian rhythm, which is tied to natural light exposure, becomes disrupted, leading to issues like sleep problems, hormonal imbalances, and increased stress on the body. Studies have found a marked increase in heart attacks and strokes in the days after the time change each year.

  • Daylight saving time starts at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Dr. Charles Czeisler

Professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School's Division of Sleep Medicine.

Jamie Zeitzer

Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University.

Dr. Maria Delgado-Lelievre

Distinguished hypertension specialist at the University of Miami.

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What they’re saying

“That one-hour time may not seem like much, but it can wreak havoc on people's mental and physical well-being in the short term.”

— Dr. Charles Czeisler, Professor of sleep medicine (Harvard Medical School)

“The more light exposure you get at the wrong times, the weaker the circadian clock. All of these things that are downstream — for example, your immune system, your energy — don't match up quite as well.”

— Jamie Zeitzer, Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences (Stanford University)

“The disruption to the body's internal clock, or its circadian rhythm, is likely connected with the marked increase in heart attacks and strokes in the days following the switch to daylight saving time each year.”

— Dr. Maria Delgado-Lelievre, Distinguished hypertension specialist (American Heart Association)

What’s next

Experts recommend taking steps to prepare for the time change, such as going to bed earlier, getting more natural light, and avoiding increased caffeine and alcohol use in the days surrounding the switch.

The takeaway

The one-hour shift in daylight saving time can have significant short-term impacts on physical and mental health, underscoring the importance of maintaining a healthy sleep schedule and circadian rhythm. Idahoans should be aware of these risks and take proactive steps to mitigate the effects of the time change.