I have narcolepsy/cataplexy. I was taking xyrem but looking for an alternative and much cheaper medicine. Is there an alternative for xyrem?

Any advice for new parents?

Hi snap802, for more detailed information, here is a link to the AASM position statement:https://sleepeducation.org/resources/daylight-saving-time/

In addition to AASM, many other health organizations feel the same way:

American Medical Association https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-calls-permanent-standard-time

National Sleep Foundation

https://www.thensf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NSF-Position-on-Permanent-Standard-Time_3.22.2021.pdf

Sleep Research Society

https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/45/12/zsac236/6717940

Back in '66, there was an opt-out opportunity built in to the law. Hawaii is also on pST, for example. Aloha!

Hi snap802 - The AASM advocates for permanent Standard Time. We have actually tried permanent Daylight Saving Time in the past and it did not work. In December 1973, Congress enacted a two-year trial of permanent Daylight Saving Time to try to reduce energy consumption during a nationwide energy crisis. It ended up lasting less than one year because of very strong public opposition. One of the reasons for the opposition was that children were going to school in the dark during the winter. The outcry was so strong that Congress reversed the trial and reinstated Standard Time during the winter months in November 1974. We will not give up on permanent Standard Time!

I didnt know that,thank you! Doesn't Arizona not change their time though? Why is that

AASM and Sleep Research Society recommend 7 hours or more of sleep for healthy adults. Position statement on this topic is linked below:

https://aasm.org/seven-or-more-hours-of-sleep-per-night-a-health-necessity-for-adults/

What do you think of polyphasic sleep? More specifically, things like the everyman 1 and 2, segmented sleep, etc.

Regarding health effects of not getting enough sunlight in the morning: Properly timed morning light exposure helps maintain alignment of our body’s circadian rhythm. DST also means it stays light later in the evening, which can signal towards a later bedtime (via biology - such as melatonin release - as well as increased evening social activity, etc). This leads to reduced sleep overall. In fact, DST might reduce sleep time for the duration of DST, not just the first week. CDC has linked sleep deprivation to increased risks of high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, and obesity, to name a few. Simply said: #sleepisgoodmedicine

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Great questions, BrilliantPace7459. Since 1966, all states in the U.S. were standardized to change clocks twice yearly to maintain consistency. The science is clear that Daylight Saving Time has a negative impact on our health because it is misaligned with our body’s natural circadian rhythm. Changing clocks and especially “springing forward” has many health risks including increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, cardiovascular accidents, stroke, and medical errors. For this reason, the AASM advocates for permanent standard time.

Good thing I do not drive haha. I had no idea there are accident risks!

You might be a naturally segmented sleeper . Before the invention of artificial lighting, people often slept in two segments at night. You can visit r/polyphasic for some sleep schedules that take advantage of this tendency.

This is really helpful, I will start tonight.thank you!

I can address the school start time part of your question: Teenagers in general have delayed sleep phase meaning that they have a hard time getting up in the morning and feeling awake. There is data to suggest that delaying school start time improves school performance and may reduce the risk of accidents in the morning for these teenagers. There has been movement towards delaying school start time for teenagers across the country. Unfortunately, implementing permanent daylight saving time will undo all this progress.

Here is the AASM position statement on this topic:

https://aasm.org/advocacy/position-statements/school-start-times-health-advisory/

Is it risky to hit the bed 10 minutes after eating?

Multi part question:

Will you ever give up on standard time? How let down would you feel if the US adopts daylight time? How concerned are you that Congress would just run around and desert measures to go to year round standard time? Do you cry when the time changes to daylight savings? How long until we can truly say goodbye to springing forward? Is daylight savings just a lie that hurts us?

How much minutes are sufficiant for a daysleep for good health?

Why do we change our time twice a year anyways? What's the benefit of keeping one time yearround?

BrilliantPace7459 - thank you for this observation. Many people report that they are not as refreshed after the switch to DST. This can have a safety impact: “spring forward” is associated with an increase in auto accidents for the week following the switch to DST, including a 6% increase in fatal crashes. Crashes are increased even more on the westward side of each time zone. Stay safe out there!

What do you think about people's natural sleep rhythms that don't coincide with the modern 9-5 workday? Do you think the health effects will ever warrant medically necessary legal protection for people who require alternative schedules to function healthily?

Hi Slommyhouse, there are many reasons for waking during the night and feeling that your sleep is nonrestorative or feeling tired in the morning. Consider talking to your medical providers about sleep concerns, and see additional resources below:

https://sleepisgoodmedicine.com/talk-to-your-doctor/

What is the general consensus on polyphasic sleep? What are some things that you personally do to mitigate the effects of shifting between DST and ST? What is your biggest hurdle in convincing people who prefer DST that ST is the better option? What are the health effects of not getting enough sunlight in the morning? Do you think teenagers should continue to go to school at 7:00 AM or should they have a delayed start around 10:00 AM?

Hi BrilliantPace7459! Yes, it can certainly feel like a drag on the day of the time change. Some ways you can decrease the effects of “ springing forward”:

• Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep the night before and the night after the time change.
• Make the change a bit more gradual by adjusting your bedtime 15-20 minutes earlier each night starting a few nights before the transition.
• Set your clock ahead one hour on the evening of March 11 so you go to bed at your normal bedtime that evening.
• Get early morning sunlight in the week after the time change which can help reset your internal clock to the new time.

For more AMAs on this topic, subscribe to r/IAmA_Health, and check out our other topic-specific AMA subreddits here.