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Posts Tagged ‘Winter’

In winter, for a number of people, they have a low morale.  The light in the summer is a long way off with the days that are getting shorter seasonal depression aswell as winter blues can affect us.  One person out of five will be affected by the arrival of autumn.  Light therapy is an ideal way to recharge the batteries so that we can find the energy linked with the light.

The winter season which depresses us

The loss of light affects directly our morale.  One summers day brings a light intensity of 100 000 lux (light intensity) and in the bright office, we recieve only 400 lux.  This contrast affects directly our matabolisme by the changes of our hormones with an over production of melatonin (sleeping hormone) during the day.

Light therapy, a treatment against winter blues and seasonal depression

Light therapy can be used in the home or in a number of hospitals.

The use at home of this light therapy can be used for comfort.

How to use it

All you have to do is be exposed to a light therapy lamp, at a respectable distance and a duration of time. The results of this treatment are quite quick as it consists of sending a light message via the retina and the nurotransmitters so as to inhabit the secretion of the melatonin.

You will find all the information you need on light therapy and Seasonal Affective Disorder on the Solvital light therapy website

When the sky is grey and the days grow short our morale is unharmed.  Everyone can be affected by the loss of light in the dead season.  It is now or never to chase away the passing blues or the seasonal depression with the help of light therapy.

A quarter of the population sees their life turned upside down by the season’s rhythm, where as 2 or 3% of people suffer a severe depression due to this time of year.  It is only since the middle of the 80’s that researchers started looking for the reasons of this depressive state.  Someone suffering from seasonal depressions have a tendancy to see their appetite increase, have a taste for sugar and have an excessive need for sleep.  As the symptoms are different to a regular depression, Dr Marc Hébert researcher and professor at Laval Robert Giffard University, thinks it is necessary to treat patients differently. Instead of giving them a percription for antidepressants he praises a healthier solution : exposure to light.

The eye : window to the brain

“Contrary to what many people think the eye is not an external organ, but an extention of the brain” explains Dr Hébert.  All the plays between the two ears, but as it is extremely difficult to study the organ in vivo, the study of the eye is composed of an interesting window.

If the brain seems to be affected by the lack of light, we do not know what makes certain people more vulnerable than others.  It is by analysis of the retina that multidisciplinary directed by Dr Hébert, composed of researchers in neuroscience in opthalmologyof psychologists and psychiatrists resulting in knowing a little more about the role of light on the brain.  “Alot of sick neuropsychiatrists think that the eye is the vision of the person not affected, he says (…) we are capable of studyin neurotransmitters presents the eye and we can see the effects after four weeks of light therapy sessions.”

Seratonine and dopamine are the two most common neurotransmitters that are directly linked to the humour.  If there is a chemical inbalance of the neurotransmitters it can start a depression.

Light therapy

Light therapy, lux therapy or photo therapy consists of exposure to an intense light at eye level of 5000 to 10 000 lux (light unities), in controled conditions.  A headline comparison, of regular lighting that we can have at the house or at the office of only 100 to 150 lux.

The advantage of this treatement is that it can be done at home.  A light therapy lamp costs about 250 $.  Certain pharmacies also offer a months trial.  The cost of renting deducted if the person decides to buy the lamp.  It is better to buy a lamp specially made for this effect rather than fabricate your own, says the specialist (it is a danger for the eyes and your skin).

The use of a light therapy lamp can be diversified, because the user can stay active during sessions. Dr Hébert personnaly uses all the time a lamp at work at his desk.  He suggests also to people to put it on the table while they are having breakfast or when they are reading a news paper.  The person should keep their eyes open, but not to keep looking at the light.  The person can then carry on about their business, while being exposed to the light. You can equalise the sessions of exposur and the intensity of the light by your own energy and needs, which can change each month each year.  After an hour a day, the benefits generally show about a week later.  Sure it is firstly recommended to consult a doctor so as to decide if the problem which is affecting the person is actually seasonal depression.

Sceptics

Despite its benefits, light therapy still has scepitcs in the medical community.  “There are psychologists and psychiatrists