Health folks recommend vigilance about some health effects caused by the time change. The effects may seem minor but can be major quickly.

TAKEN TO HEART — While Mondays are the worst day of the week for heart attacks, there’s about a 5 percent drop for two to three Mondays after the fall time change, say Swiss researchers. That may be because the conditions that cause the heart attacks — loss of sleep on weekends, early start on Monday, taxes a weak heart. So the extra hour of rest. This might be a lesson for folks who don’t believe in sleep. Because the opposite effect will happen in the spring when heart attacks spike upwards by as much as 10 percent.

BODY CLOCK CONFUSION – That extra sleep can affect your circadian rhythm, that internal body clock that turns you on, off or just lowers your energy level. It can go out of sync for about two weeks. Sample results: taping the wrong television show, showing up for appointments late or early, and for some, minor jet lag, dozing off at meetings because you stayed awake too long, fatiguing too early, insomnia.

TRAFFIC CHAOS –  Count on an upward spike in rush-hour traffic accidents for the first two weeks after the change  as people get used to driving home from work in the dark.  We know the roads are full of unintelligent drivers — you know who they are, everyone else — and after the time change, they’re unintellgent in the dark. This also means back off the booze until you’re back in sync; even one drink can really screw up your alertness when your out of sync.

SAD — Expect a spike in seasonal affective disorder. This means a lot of calls on local counselors and employee assistance programs. SAD is the disorder that happens when days shorten, there’s less sunlight, more darkness, and more depression. A hint. It’s what it is; don’t connect your feeling to something. You have a disorder that can be fixed with increasing sun-level light in your house, counseling and possibly medication. See your doctor.

– The CDC says use the time to remind you to change the batteries on your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide sensors and check your fire extinguishers.

– Animals, including pets and farm animals, won’t cooperate for a while with the time change. They use sun-up and sun-down and don’t care what your appointment book says.

If you know of any more, feel free to add some information.