by Josef Firestone

Created on: March 09, 2009

The two most important factors that determine our body's rhythm are extenal light and the body's internal clock. Moving the clock one hour forward in the beginning of spring, applying Daylight Saving Time, influences both factors artificially.

In a perfect world, our health would not suffer at all from having longer days, or nights. Our body is resilient, and can adjust to this minor change easily, the same way it does with all the other disturbances: Noise, street lamps, illuminated roads and buildings, and so on. Flying above the big cities of the world, one can not help wondering how residents get any sleep with so much light around.

Daylight can be mimicked. Artificial light might not have all the other effects of being outside such as trees, sunsets, birds, dogs, trains, or cars, but it works. Light penetrates the eye, travels to the back of the eye, and down to nerves leading to the brain. Light impulses trigger a release of chemicals, on to the clock cells. Clock cells are a small center in the brain, which control our eating, drinking, sleeping, and waking routine. Major organs in the body such as the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys have their own clock cells.

This system, like all other systems, has been perfected through evolution. However, living in a modern, fast-moving world can take its toll on us. Millions of people are working in shifts, long hours, in bars, factories, or hospitals. Their work is needed, but they are more exposed to health risks.

The decisions and the amount of responsibility we take, in regard to our health, will help determine how fit we stay. Recognizing the importance of light and its health benefits, one would make sure he gets enough of it. People who are conscious of how the body's internal clock works, its up and downs, and the obvious benefits of following its routine, will make appropriate adjustments when spring comes.

The debate around daylight saving time and its health effects would go on. In the meantime, it is the group that fears the consequences, who is most likely to suffer. Anticipating health complications brings the likelihood they will actually happen higher. Healthy people listen to their body. The body's brain is older than our thinking brain - it will make some adjustments in relation to 'summer time', and will inform us about them. We can choose to listen to wise advice, or not.

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