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October 30, 2008 at 08:46:55

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DST: Springing Forward, Falling Back is Bad/Good For Our Health

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By Sandy Sand (about the author)     Page 1 of 1 page(s)

opednews.com     Permalink

For OpEdNews: Sandy Sand - Writer

Being a devout hater of Daylight Savings Time, I always knew DST is bad for one’s health and psyche, and a study by Swedish researchers proves it.

Daylight Savings Time turns our body clocks inside out and backwards.

According to the Associated Press, the findings, which are reported in today’s New England Journal of Medicine, Swedish scientists discovered the following after reviewing health records for the last 20 years: In the week after "spring forward," there was a five percent increase in heart attacks, with a six percent bump Monday and Wednesday and a 10 percent increase Tuesday.

In the week after "fall back," the number of heart attacks was about the same as in the previous and subsequent weeks, except for a 5 percent decrease Monday.

In my opinion, contrary to popular belief that DST is an energy saver verges on worldwide urban legend; Daylight Savings is NOT an energy saver.

If anything, it’s an energy waster.

Because the sun sets an hour later, it means we keep our energy-guzzling air-conditioners running an hour longer. Keeping the A/C on longer is certainly more energy-consuming that flipping on a few light switches.

Not only that, but the last two week of DST are depressing as hell. It’s dark for so long in the morning it puts a drag on the entire day while draining our own personal energy.

When I look at the clock and it says 7 a.m. and the sun is barely peeking over the horizon, it feels like something is terribly wrong.

Blame the charcoal industry for extending DST hours; it was their lobbying efforts that done this to us, because they wanted a little more daylight so they could sell more charcoal.

Who uses charcoal bar-b-ques anymore anyway? As for me, I find it a pain in the butt to make all those trips out back to cook what I can whip up just as well and far more easily in my kitchen.

Even with gas bar-b-ques, I rarely smell the tempting aroma of sizzling steaks wafting into my back yard, so I’m not sure how many people are still throwing shrimp or anything else on the barbie.

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_10851210

 

Sandy Sand began her writing career while raising three children and doing public relations work for Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training). That led to a job as a reporter for the San Fernando Valley Chronicle, a (more...)
 

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Book Recommendations for "Daylight Savings Time"
Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time
by David Prerau

$14.95
Lowest New Price $2.00

Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Basic Books

Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time
by Michael Downing

$14.95
Lowest New Price $8.00

Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Counterpoint

Changing to Daylight Saving Time and Other Absurdities in Life. A Collection of McHumor Cartoons
by Theresa McCracken

$8.50

Number of pages: 36
Publisher: McHumor, Waldport, Oregon

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I'm still running on GST... by C.Bid on Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 9:51:03 AM
Time by Sandy Sand on Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 10:29:20 AM
Conservative response by vidiot on Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 10:39:59 AM
Don't forget... by C.Bid on Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 11:02:15 AM
Okay, anyone who wants to be DST free by Sandy Sand on Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 12:13:34 PM
This is really.... by vidiot on Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 2:53:49 PM

 
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