When you set your clock forward an hour every spring for daylight

 

Diagnosis 

When you set your clock forward an hour every spring for daylight saving time (DST)— as we'll do on March 9 — it doesn’t just make you feel tired, experts say. A growing amount of research indicates that it also affects your body in other surprising and negative ways. ​

For most people, setting the clock ahead in the spring is the most dreaded change. The average person gets about 40 minutes less sleep on the Monday after “springing forward” for daylight saving time, according to the Sleep Foundation.

Effects of daylight saving on the body

Daylight saving time throws your body’s internal clock out of whack, which can negatively affect your health in ways you don’t realize, says Jocelyn Cheng, M.D., a neurologist and sleep medicine specialist who is the vice-chair of the Public Safety Committee for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. ​

 Impaired decision-making 

Scientists have long known that lack of sleep can affect your ability to think and make decisions. Studies also show that people who don’t get enough shut-eye are more likely to take risks and make mistakes. 

“Light is the most powerful regulator of our circadian rhythm. When we change the light exposure we get in the morning and at night, it throws that off,” Cheng says. “There are adverse health consequences and real-life consequences as a result of that.”​

Losing an hour may not seem like a big deal, but it “really can have a significant impact on our overall health and well-being,” says Melissa Lipford, M.D., a neurologist and sleep specialist at the Mayo Clinic. ​ 

Should we keep daylight saving?

Daylight saving time has been around in the United States since 1918 when it was thought to save energy during World War I. In recent years, increasing concerns about health effects have prompted at least 40 states to propose legislation to eliminate the twice-yearly time changes. ​

Here are six ways the disruptions from daylight saving time in the spring can affect your body.

1. Higher risk of heart attack and stroke

Daylight saving time takes a toll on your heart. One study found a 24 percent increase in heart attacks on the Monday after daylight saving time starts. Another found the risk of stroke is 8 percent higher on the two days following the time change. 

In addition, the number of people hospitalized with atrial fibrillation, or A-fib — the most common type of irregular heartbeat — surges in the days following the spring time change, according to a 2020 analysis of 6,089 patient admissions at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. One study found the risk of stroke is 8 percent higher on the two days following the spring and the fall time change.

3. Difficulty with memory and focus

Lack of sleep negatively affects memory, attention span and focus, research shows.

The 9 Worst Habits for Your Eyes

 Health

bouquets 9 Worst Habits for Your Eyes

Everyday actions that can 

The importance of an annual eye exam cannot be overstated. Not only does it help you keep tabs on any changes in your vision, but it’s a must for detecting the big vision thieves: glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), all of which can cause irreparable harm before you’ve even noticed any vision loss, says Michelle Andreoli, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Northwestern Medicine and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

What might not be so obvious when it comes to the health of your eyes are the everyday habits that affect them. Here are nine of the worst habits for eyes — and what you can do to break each of this

Bad habit 1: Smoking

Add this to the always-growing list of reasons to give up smoking for good: Cigarette smoke is more than just irritating to your eyes; research shows it also raises your risk of developing AMD, the eye disease that can blur your central vision. People over age 55 are already at risk for the condition, but a large review of studies published in Clinical Interventions in Aging shows that smokers are at a twofold to fourfold risk of AMD, as compared to never smokers. 

​​“Smoking reduces the effectiveness of antioxidants and may deplete these levels in the macula,” the small area at the center of the retina that’s necessary to see things in front of you, explains Ashley Brissette, M.D., an ophthalmologist and assistant professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. “Cigarette smoke also reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the tiny blood vessels that supply the eye, leading to vision damage.” That’s true for those who smoke only occasionally or are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke, Brissette adds. The good news? The same review of studies shows that kicking the habit not only reduces the risk of AMD, but after 20 years, the risk of developing the condition is the same as it is for nonsmokers.

Bad habit 2: Staring at your smartphone

Your eyes pay a price directly and indirectly when you stare at that tiny screen — or, for that matter, your computer screen or TV — without giving them a break. According to the American Optometric Association, using any of your digital devices continuously for two hours is enough to bring about digital eye strain.

“The two biggest concerns with onscreen habits boil down to chronic dry eye symptoms and disruption of natural sleep patterns,” Andreoli says. “We’re supposed to blink once every 4 seconds, and in front of the computer, we blink about once every 8 to 10 seconds. That [difference] may sound insignificant, but blinking is what keeps our eyes lubricated. [If] we aren’t lubricating our eyes sufficiently, we develop dry eye symptoms, and that leads to eye strain.” ​​Then there’s the toll too much screen time takes on our sleep patterns. “The brightness of the screen and the activity tells our brain it’s daytime, so we have a tendency not to get appropriately tired,” Andreoli says.

Her recommendation: Practice the 20-20-20 rule. Throughout the day, take a 20-second screen break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away. And while you’re in the habit-changing mode, turn off your phone and put the laptop away in the hours leading up to bedtime. If you like to play, say, Wordle or return emails late at night, be sure to dim the screen’s brightness. You can schedule this to happen automatically using the Night Shift setting on an iPhone or Notification Shade on an Android. ​

Bad habit 3: Not wearing sunglasses

In the same way that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can do a number on your skin, it can also wreak havoc with your vision. Specifically, UV rays can damage the eye’s surface tissues, the cornea and lens. And over time, that damage can lead to cataracts, AMD and cancers of the eye.

“You can also develop a sunburn on the eyes called photokeratitis, which can be extremely painful,” Brissette says. To help prevent all of the above, wear sunglasses — and not just during the summer but every day of the year, even when it’s cloudy. ​​“Sunglasses protect the eyes in a few ways,” Brissette adds. “It’s hard to apply sunscreen close to the eyes, so sunglasses can act as a physical barrier, blocking UV rays from the eyelids and skin around the eyes. Also, the lenses of the sunglasses have UV protection.” To fully protect your eyes, check the tag or sticker to make sure the glasses provide 100 percent UV protection. “Some labels say, ‘UV absorption up to 400 nm,’ which is the same as 100 percent UV protection,” Brissette says. ​​

Worth noting: Even if you wear contact lenses with UV-blocking technology, you should still wear sunglasses outdoors. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, these contacts protect only the part of the eye they cover, leaving the outside of the eye exposed to harmful radiation. Your eyes get the most protection when you wear sunglasses, especially wraparound styles.

Bad habit 4: Sleeping in your contact lenses

Sure, contacts have gotten more user-friendly, but that doesn’t mean you can simply put them in and forget about them. “The biggest issue is the risk of infection, which can cause permanent scarring of the cornea and loss of vision,” Brissette says. “Bacteria and other debris get trapped between the contact lens and the surface of the cornea, so leaving them in too long or past their expiration [puts you at] high risk for developing an infection.”

About 1 in 3 contact lens wearers plead guilty to sleeping or napping in their lenses, according to research in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In doing so, they’re upping the risk for contact lens–related eye infections by six- to eightfold“They’ve come a long way in the last few decades, but the safety profile of contacts is dependent on not sleeping in them, swimming in them or showering in them — ever,” Andreoli says. “I suggest daily lenses for most of my patients — put them in in the morning and throw them away at night — because the risk for infection with those types of lenses is very low. With some of the longer-wear lenses, patients have a knack for losing track of how long they’ve worn them. That can cause trouble over time.” ​​

Bad habit 5: Rubbing your eyes

There’s no real harm in occasionally rubbing your eyes, but if you’re aggressive about it, you run the risk of damaging your cornea, the clear, dome-shaped front surface of your eye. “Some uncommon diseases of the cornea are associated with eye rubbing,” Andreoli says. Those include keratoconus, a condition that occurs when your cornea thins out and begins to bulge outward into a cone shape. As a result, your vision is blurry and distorted. 

A study published recently in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that the severity of dry eye disease was higher in patients who are chronic eye rubbers.

If you’re looking for quick relief from redness, irritation, dryness and grittiness in the eye, it’s OK to rub your eyes. “The occasional rub will milk some tears out of the tear gland, but try not to be overly aggressive or frequent,” Andreoli adds. Better yet, reach for some lubricating eye drops or place a hot washcloth over your eyes. ​​

​​If you find that you’re habitually rubbing your eyes — and one way to get a handle on just how often you’re rubbing is to keep track for a week — try rubbing the outer edge of the eye socket instead of your eyes as a way to minimize the consequences. If that doesn’t work, then seeing a therapist

Bad habit 6: Sleeping with your makeup on

Researchers have known for a while that wearing eye makeup increases your risk of inflammation and affects the quality of your tears. It also plays a role in the development and/or exacerbation of dry eye disease, according to research published in 2022 in the journal Cureus. That’s especially true if you make a habit of falling asleep with your makeup on.

Every once in a great while, it’s OK if you don’t take your makeup off before you fall asleep. Make a habit of it, however, and you raise your risk of eye infection, most notably in the form of a sty, a painful lump that grows from the base of your eyelash or under the eyelid. Also important: how you take off your eye makeup.

“Oil-based remover can exacerbate some dry eye symptoms because they deposit a ton of oil in the tears,” Andreoli says. “If patients are starting to notice this, abandon eye makeup remover and use very mild face soap instead.”

Bad habit 7: Heavy drinking

The surprise isn’t that drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol — up to one drink per day for women and no more than two per day for men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — is bad for your health. The surprise is how bad heavy drinking can be for your eyes. “Some of the most damaging effects on vision are from extremely high levels of alcohol or chronic alcohol abuse,” Brissette says. “Toxic blood alcohol levels can permanently damage the optic nerve and vision centers.” 

In fact, a review of studies published in 2021 in the Journal of Ophthalmic & Vision Research found that chronic alcohol consumption raises the risk for cataracts, AMD, diabetic retinopathy and various types of optic neuropathy, among other conditions.

Social drinkers, take note: None of the above applies to you. But that doesn’t mean you’re totally in the clear. Even occasional alcohol use contributes to dry eye disease, Brissette says. 

Bad habit 8: Skimping on nutrients

Somewhere along the way, carrots became the poster vegetable for good eye health. While it’s true that your eyes need vitamin A — it helps nourish the cornea and is critical for the retina to function — the vitamin A-rich carrot is far from the only eye-friendly veggie.

In the landmark Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and the follow-up AREDS2, researchers tested whether taking nutritional supplements — specifically, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamins C and E, copper and zinc — could prevent or slow the progression of AMD and cataracts. The researchers found that taking the vitamins had no effect on cataracts, but it did help AMD patients reduce their risk of progressing from intermediate to advanced AMD by about 25 percent. The formulation tested in the study is now commonly sold over the counter as the AREDS2 formula.

Brissette recommends taking the supplement if you’ve been diagnosed with AMD. Otherwise, she suggests following the Mediterranean diet for overall eye health. “That’s what we have the best evidence for in terms of being beneficial for eye health — specifically, foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, lutein, zeaxanthin and omegas,” she says. “It’s always better to get our nutrients from whole food sources rather than from supplements, if possible. If you’ve been diagnosed with macular degeneration, then taking a supplement, such as AREDS2, can help to slow progression and are additionally recommended.”

Bad habit 9: Skipping vaccines

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends getting appropriate vaccines, including shingles and measles. Both diseases can cause serious vision problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone over age 50 get a two-course dose of Shingrix, which is 97 percent successful at preventing shingles in people in their 50s and 60s, and 91 percent successful for those in their 70s and older. In addition to a painful rash, shingles can cause serious complications, including nerve damage and vision loss. 

Although most older Americans have either had measles or had the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella, some recent outbreaks are causing concern. If you can’t remember if you’ve had the illness or vaccine, talk to your doctor. Measles can infect the cornea and cause blindness, although due to widespread vaccination, this is rare in the United State on Eye Health

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Consumer Reports Names Its 10 Top Vehicles for 2025.

 

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Consumer Reports Names Its 10 Top Vehicles for 2025. Which One is Best for Older Adults?

Find out if your car is on the list. Plus, learn the features older adults should consider

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Toyota

One thing many car owners can agree on is that they don't like surprises. If you’re in that group, then this year’s Consumer Reports top 10 best cars, trucks and SUVs is for you. Focusing on reliability and value, the Consumer Report (CR) ranking includes eight returning winners from last year, a number of hybrids, one electric vehicle and four cars that start at under $30,000.

"Car models tend to become more reliable over time,  as manufacturers keep refining designs without making major changes. That's why some of the same models pop up on the list, year over year," says Alex Knizek, associate director of automotive test development for Consumer Reports.

Here's a rundown of the top 10 cars, how cars get on the list and the car Knizek says is best for older adults.

Which car is best for older drivers?

For those us in the over-50 set, Knizek says it's a good idea to consider accessibility and visibility when choosing a vehicle.

How CR picks cars for the list

Each year, CR purchases and tests roughly 50 vehicles. The non-profit then combines those results with their annual reliability and satisfaction survey of members, says Knizek.

The factors CR considers: performance, reliability, owner satisfaction and safety. Safety is based on ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Recalls are not factored into Consumer Reports' (CR) final scores.

Of CR's top picks, the Subaru Forester came in first for Knizek in that regard. "Without a doubt, the Subaru Forester in terms of both seat height, which is at most people's hip level, and ride height, which is not too high, makes it particularly easy to get in and out of," he says. He also notes that with its boxy shape rather than swoopy design, the Forester has excellent visibility.

Conversely, shoppers should be aware that some sedans are not as accessible. Toyota's Camry, for example, has been given a sportier look, "but it's actually quite low to the ground, so it can be a little tricky getting in there," notes Knizek.

In terms of safety, all the top picks this year come standard with automatic emergency braking that works at both low speeds and highway speeds. CR is also a big proponent of blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning systems, which tend to come bundled together. "I definitely encourage people to seek out those features," says Knizek.

Many hybrids and one electric vehicle made the cut

This year's 10 best also reflect the continuing electric car and hybrid trend, including more than half a dozen models that either come standard or available as electric-gas hybrids. One all-electric vehicle (EV) made the list this year: the Tesla Model Y. Why? "EVs are still kind of struggling when it comes to reliability," says Knizek.

Affordability important? Four cars under $30k are on the list

One other common feature among CR's top picks: value. The average U.S. buyer pays about $48,000 for a new car, according to CR. But there are 4 models on the list with starting prices under $30,000 including the Nissan Sentra, Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota Camry and Ford Maverick.

"You don't have to spend a ton to get something that's safe and reliable," notes Knizek.

Ready for the complete list? Here you go, starting with the best small car.

Best small car

Nissan

Nissan Sentra

• Price: Starting at $22,730
• EPA mpg: 34
• NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars

Boasting the lowest starting price on CR's list is the front-wheel drive Nissan Sentra (last year's winner in this category was the Mazda 3). Reviewers noted that it has a relatively spacious interior and is a smooth ride for a small car in this price range. Also noteworthy was the fact that it comes standard with safety features — including emergency braking — and that the vehicle's controls are straightforward and easy to master.

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Best subcompact SUV

Subaru

Subaru Crosstrek

• Price: Starting at $27,230
• EPA mpg: 29

If you're looking for something a little more versatile, the Subaru Crosstrek offers all-wheel drive, making it more adept at winter and off-road driving. CR's reviewers found the interior controls user-friendly but the subcompact SUV doesn't have a lot of interior storage. The vehicle also has surprisingly modest fuel consumption for an all-wheel drive, but testers note the base model is a little under powered and recommend upgrading to the 2.5-liter engine option.

Best compact SUV

Subaru

Subaru Forester

• Price: Starting at $31,415
• EPA mpg: 29

The Subaru Forester has been redesigned for 2025. But as CR notes, it's kept a lot of what buyers have liked from previous designs, which is why this model has made the top 10 list for 12 years in a row. Older drivers and passengers will appreciate this all-wheel-drive SUV's easy access, superior visibility, and now quieter interior. Also new this year: a hybrid version of the Forester will be available, which should deliver even better fuel economy.

Best midsized car

Toyota

Toyota Camry

• Price: Starting at $29,835
• EPA mpg: 50

The newly redesigned Camry is now offered only as a hybrid, meaning it has a supporting electric powertrain along with the gas engine. Like other standard hybrids, it charges as you drive and doesn't need to be plugged in. According to Knizek, Toyota has refined the system to the point that most drivers wouldn't even realize it's a hybrid — until they notice what great mileage it gets. Just remember that folks with flexibility issues may find the Camry a little tricky to climb down into as it sits low to the ground.

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Best small pickup

Ford

Ford Maverick and Maverick Hybrid

• Price: Starting at $27,890
• EPA mpg: NA

In spite of its name, the Ford Maverick is a compliant and fun little pickup to drive. The gas version is definitely responsive with its 250-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but the CR reviewers really like the hybrid version of the front-wheel-drive truck, which reached 37 mpg in their tests. For a truck, the Maverick also has reasonable space for passengers in the back. It also has straightforward controls that make it easy to operate.

Best fuel-efficient SUV

Toyota

Toyota RAV4 PHEV

• Price: Starting at $45,615
• EPA mpg: 94

The RAV4 is easy to slide into without having to squat or duck down. It also delivers truly impressive range and performance for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), which means you can plug it in to charge the electric side of things if you want and run it with the gas engine when going on longer trips. The rechargeable battery will get you 42 miles on its own, which is exceptional for a PHEV, and good enough for driving around town. And it's quite zippy, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds in CR’s tests.

Best midsized SUV

Toyota

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

• Price: Starting at $47,470
• EPA mpg: 35

If you're looking for something bigger to haul the grandkids around in, the Highlander offers three rows of seats in a midsized SUV (the only model on CR's list to offer this feature). It also comes standard with all-wheel drive, making it more surefooted in the snow and rain. The hybrid support boosts this SUV's fuel economy to a combined 35 mph city/highway, which is truly impressive for a vehicle this size.

Best luxury compact SUV

Lexus

Lexus NX350h and 450h+

• Price: Starting at $46,600 for the hybrid; $62,390 for the plug-in hybrid
• EPA mpg: 39 for hybrid; 84 for the plug-in hybrid 

Well-known for cosseting its drivers and passengers, Lexus doesn't disappoint with the NX350h hybrid and the NX450h+ plug-in hybrid SUVs. CR calls the seating in these models "plush" and had positive experiences with the infotainment systems offered. The NX350h is a standard hybrid, which means it doesn't need to be plugged in to charge the supporting electric power train and runs on gas most of the time. The NX450h+ can go up to 37 miles under electric power and be plugged in when you want to fully charge the system. Reviewers found both models offered a predictable but firm ride.

Best luxury midsized SUV

BMW

BMW X5 PHEV

• Price: Starting at $67,475 gas; $74,975 PHEV
• EPA mpg: 25 gas; NA hybrid

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Tesla

Video: Your Extended Warranty Might Not Be Worth the Money

The most expensive vehicles in CR's top 10 this year, the BMW X5 and plug-in hybrid version of the X5, deliver not only luxury but also excellent handling. CR called their driving abilities "confidence-inspiring" and "athletic," something you cannot say about most SUVs. The X5 can get from 0 to 60 mph in 6 seconds. Better still, the PHEV version of the SUV can take you up to 39 miles on electric power before relying on gas alone. Blind-spot and lane-departure warning systems, rear cross traffic alerts, and driver attention alert systems—all of which CR recommends—are standard on both versions of the X5.

Best electric vehicle

Tesla Model Y

• Price: Starting at $46,380 (long-range model)
• EPA mpg: 125

The only all-electric vehicle in this year's top 10 is Tesla's midsized SUV, the Model Y. Its fully electric power train means it delivers excellent acceleration from a standing start and tight handling, making it as fun to drive as a sports car. What the reviewers really liked about this car is actually the company's extensive public charging network, which makes it easy to plug in. On the other hand, there are no gauges directly behind the steering wheel for the driver, so you have to look over to your right to see what's going on, and some buttons are quite small. CR does not encourage buyers to get the assisted driving option ("Full Self Driving mode"), which doesn't have some driver monitoring safeguards that others off