CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- As clocks fall back an hour, many appreciate the chance for extra sleep, but experts warn that even small changes to our sleep schedules can have significant effects.

"Sleep is one of the key pillars of health, just like diet and exercise," said Dr. Mary Ellen Wells, director of Neurodiagnostic and Sleep Science Division at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

Dr. Wells said that shifting our clocks for Daylight Saving Time, while seemingly harmless, can disrupt our internal rhythms.

"Any time we disrupt our sleep schedule, even by just an hour, it can have detrimental effects on our health," she said.

Over time, these disruptions can lead to issues, like increased risks of cardiovascular problems, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, and obesity. Sleep

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