Daylight Saving Time Transition Poses Health Risks, Experts Warn

Sleep experts advise adjusting schedules gradually and maintaining good sleep hygiene to mitigate the impact of the time change.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Dr. Stanley Wang, medical director at the Sleep Disorder Center at Heart Hospital of Austin, warns that the upcoming shift to daylight saving time can cause significant stress to the human body, leading to sleep deprivation and increased risks of chronic illnesses. He suggests that residents begin adjusting their schedules several days in advance and maintain good sleep hygiene to help their bodies adapt to the time change.

Why it matters

The transition to daylight saving time can disrupt the body's natural sleep cycle, leading to sleep deprivation and increased risks of health issues like heart disease and accidents. Experts emphasize the importance of managing this transition proactively to mitigate the negative impacts.

The details

Dr. Wang explains that the human body cannot adapt as quickly as digital devices to the time change, creating tension between the natural sleep cycle and the behavioral sleep cycle. Sleep deprivation during the time change can impair brain function and increase the risk of conditions like atrial fibrillation and heart attacks. Experts recommend adjusting wake-up times gradually over several days and maintaining good sleep hygiene, such as consistent schedules for eating and sleeping, and avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and strenuous exercise close to bedtime.

  • The upcoming shift to daylight saving time will occur on March 10, 2026.

The players

Dr. Stanley Wang

Medical director at the Sleep Disorder Center at Heart Hospital of Austin.

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What they’re saying

“When we do spring forward, we're really creating a lot of tension between the natural human sleep cycle, which is dependent on exposure to day and night and our behavioral sleep cycle, which is dependent on clocks and watches and smartphones.”

— Dr. Stanley Wang, Medical director at the Sleep Disorder Center at Heart Hospital of Austin (KXAN)

“Springing forward makes you get up kind of an unnaturally dark time. This can cause a lot of people to have sleep deprivation, which affects brain function. People have more accidents.”

— Dr. Stanley Wang, Medical director at the Sleep Disorder Center at Heart Hospital of Austin (KXAN)

“People who sleep fewer hours than that because of sleep deprivation, because of job demands, or family demands have greater risks of chronic illnesses, including heart diseases.”

— Dr. Stanley Wang, Medical director at the Sleep Disorder Center at Heart Hospital of Austin (KXAN)

What’s next

The upcoming shift to daylight saving time will occur on March 10, 2026. Experts recommend that residents begin adjusting their schedules several days in advance to help their bodies adapt to the time change.

The takeaway

The transition to daylight saving time can have significant impacts on sleep and overall health, but proactive steps like gradually adjusting schedules and maintaining good sleep hygiene can help mitigate these risks. Prioritizing sleep and managing the time change effectively is crucial for maintaining physical and mental well-being.