The Pittsburgh doctor explains how changing the clocks affects your body

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A Pittsburgh-based doctor explains some effects the clock change happening this weekend could have on your body.

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

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

“When we go back to what’s really normal, this is a better time of year for our bodies,” said director of the Allegheny Health Network Center for Sleep Disorders, Dr. Daniel Shade. “It’s a better time for our circadian rhythm. It’s a better time for our health.”

Dr. Shade says that while we may change our clocks, our bodies still see and long for dinner as dinner, and that when the sun rises earlier on Sunday and moves forward, the sun is actually up when most people get up, and that leads to having more energy.

Dr. Shade also says that we should be happy that the clock is being rolled back and that we need it.

“What you should do is take advantage of this rare opportunity to get another hour of sleep if you can,” said Dr. Shade. “Most of us walk around with sleep debt or a little bit of sleep deprivation, and this is the one opportunity where we actually get to try and get an extra hour of sleep.”

At the other end of the day, he says not to combat the effect of it getting darker earlier with a flood of artificial lighting.

Dr. Shade says the change can bring on a bit of seasonal affective disorder and maybe a tinge of depression, but it shouldn’t last long, and if it does, see your doctor.

He says some people will adjust the same day and 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 alarm.