Transition to Winter Time on the Night of October 26: Health Risks.

According to inkorr.com: In Ukraine, the transition to winter time is scheduled for the night of Saturday to Sunday, October 26. Meanwhile, many countries have already abandoned this practice. Over the last decade, the number of states using this system has sharply decreased: while half of the world's countries previously applied it, now only a third do.

In Ukraine, the transition to winter time will take place at 4:00 AM on October 26, when the clock will be set back one hour. Despite the fact that in 2024, the Verkhovna Rada passed a bill to abolish seasonal time changes, the document has not yet been signed by the president, so the tradition remains in place.

Risks of Changing Clocks

• Disruption of Biological Rhythms

Changing the time may cause an imbalance in the body's circadian rhythms, negatively affecting the natural cycle of sleep and alertness. Experts assert that light is the main regulator of the internal clock: morning light promotes the production of hormones that control stress levels, blood sugar, and feelings of hunger.

• Traffic Accidents

Research shows conflicting results: transitions to winter time may reduce the number of accidents due to an extra hour of sleep; however, the spring transition increases the risk of traffic accidents by 8% due to drivers' lack of sleep.

• Cardiovascular System

Medical studies indicate that the transition to winter time reduces the risk of heart attacks by approximately 10%, while the spring change increases it by a similar percentage.

Global Situation

In Europe, the issue of abolishing seasonal transitions has been discussed since 2018. The European Commission proposed to abandon this practice, and the European Parliament supported this initiative; however, the final decision has yet to be made by the EU Council. Some countries, including Sweden, are waiting for a Europe-wide verdict.

In the US, Senator Marco Rubio introduced the Sunshine Protection Act in March 2023, which proposes the implementation of permanent daylight saving time. The Senate approved this document, but the House of Representatives blocked further consideration.

Thus, Ukraine, like many other countries, continues to adhere to the system of transitioning to winter and summer time. Although there are already proposals to abolish this process, currently Ukrainians will set their clocks back one hour on the night of October 26.