Thu Mar 06 11:10:00 UTC 2025: ## America’s Sleepless Struggle: Experts Call for End to Daylight Saving Time

**Washington D.C.** – As Americans prepare to “spring forward” on March 9th, a growing chorus of medical professionals and experts are calling for the permanent abolishment of Daylight Saving Time (DST). The practice, which shifts the clock forward by one hour, disrupts natural sleep patterns and has been linked to various health problems.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the American Medical Association (AMA) both advocate for ending DST, citing research linking the time change to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, mood disorders, and traffic accidents. A 2020 study even highlighted a correlation between DST and a rise in depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Furthermore, adolescents and teens appear particularly vulnerable, experiencing sleepiness, slower reaction times, and learning deficits.

While initially conceived to conserve energy (a notion popularized, though inaccurately, by Benjamin Franklin), the energy savings associated with DST are minimal at best, potentially even offset by increased heating and cooling demands. The original rationale for the 2 a.m. switch, accommodating railroad schedules, is also outdated.

Despite the widespread availability of self-adjusting digital clocks, the human body struggles to adapt to the abrupt shift. A recent AASM poll revealed that 63% of Americans support eliminating the seasonal time changes, underscoring a growing public dissatisfaction with DST.

Many U.S. territories, including Hawaii, Arizona, and several island possessions, already reject DST, highlighting the possibility of a nationwide shift to standard time. The debate continues, but the accumulating evidence suggests a strong case for ending a century-old practice that appears to do more harm than good.

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