Pittsburgh doctor explains how changing clocks affects your body

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A Pittsburgh-based doctor explains some of the effects the time change happening this weekend can have on your body.

To get to daylight saving time, we have to lose an hour of sleep every spring and then fall back to daylight saving time in the spring.

Sleep experts welcome the change and the impact it can have on the body.

“As we get back to normal, this will be a better time of year for our bodies,” said Dr. Daniel Shade, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Allegheny Health Network. “It’s a better time for our circadian rhythms. It’s a better time for our health.”

Dr. Shade says that even though we may change our clocks, our bodies still see midday as midday and crave it, and if the sun rises earlier on Sunday and moves forward, the sun will actually have risen when most people get up , and that leads to us having more energy.

Dr. Shade also says he's happy about the clock being reset and that we need it.

“What you should do is take advantage of this rare opportunity and get an extra hour of sleep if possible,” said Dr. Shade. “Most of us are sleep-deprived or a little sleep-deprived, and this is the only time we can actually try to get an extra hour of sleep.”

On the other hand, he recommends not combating the effects of previous darkness with artificial lighting.

Dr. Shade says the change may cause mild seasonal affective disorder and perhaps a touch of depression, but it shouldn't last long. If this is the case, consult your doctor.

He says some people will adapt the same day, others may take longer, but on average most children and adults adjust within a few days.

And don't forget: It's also time to change the batteries in your smoke detector.