The Season For SAD
Reduced Daylight Can Lead To Seasonal Affective Disorder

FREE PRESENTATION: "LOSE THE BLUES" FEBRUARY 6, 2007 Thomas Kuhn, MD Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects the physical and mental well-being of millions of people every winter, with those living in colder, cloudier regions like Michigan more susceptible. Learn more about SAD and how to cope with this disorder by attending a free presentation, "Lose the Blues," sponsored by Holland Hospital. Thomas Kuhn, MD, a psychiatrist with Holland Hospital's Behavioral Health Services, will discuss how experts treat SAD and what you can do to brighten your mood during the short days and long nights of winter. The presentation is offered on Tuesday, February 6, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Freedom Village and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Evergreen Commons. Admission is free, but registration is recommended, as seats are limited. To register please call (616) 394-3344.

While the dreary days of winter might dampen anyone's spirit, SAD is a major depressive illness that can negatively affect personal relationships and family and work life.

People with SAD are often depressed, lethargic (lack energy or motivation), socially withdrawn, and agitated or irritated. They may sleep and eat excessively, gain weight, have trouble concentrating, and have feelings of hopelessness and low self-esteem.

Symptoms usually begin in late fall and subside in the spring, when daylight hours increase. January and February seem to be the most difficult for SAD sufferers. The onset of SAD is seasonal, and recurs each year around the same time.

Not surprisingly, SAD is more common among people living farther from the equator in colder, darker climates. Up to 20 percent of adults experience some of these symptoms each winter, but that percentage is likely higher in West Michigan due to our excessive cloud cover.

Human hibernation
Just as animals are affected by seasonal light variations, it's believed that some people's biological clocks or circadian rhythms are disrupted by diminished daylight during the winter.

Medical researchers suspect that the body increases its production of the sleep-related hormone melatonin during darkness, causing a kind of human hibernation during the short, dark days of winter.

"SAD is very clearly a biological condition, and involves the same mechanism that causes hibernation in animals," explains James Dumerauf, MD, medical director of Holland Hospital's Behavioral Health Services. "While the chemistry of SAD isn't fully understood, it is linked to the brain's pineal gland, which is light sensitive and regulates our biological rhythms."

Shedding some light
The most effective treatment for SAD involves giving people more of what their bodies need: sunlight. Because few of us have the luxury of escaping to a sunny locale when SAD strikes, artificial light sources do the trick without the expensive airfare and hotel. Phototherapy, or bright light therapy, has proven to be highly effective in treating SAD. It involves spending about 30 minutes daily under a special light box that emits at least 2,500 lux. Exposure to the light helps "reset" the body's biological clock, tricking it into believing it's spring or summer – and symptoms often subside.

People using the light box might set it near their kitchen table at breakfast, or have it on their desk at work. Because the light can act as a stimulant, doctors advise using the light box in the morning rather than evening because it may cause insomnia.

"If you have SAD symptoms, you really should invest in a light box, ideally one that delivers 5,000 to 10,000 lux," Dr. Dumerauf advises. "Light therapy is very well tolerated, is available without a prescription, and you can buy a light box for under $200."

Dr. Dumerauf says daily outdoor exercise and eating a healthy diet can also help relieve SAD symptoms. "Just taking a brisk 30-minute walk outdoors in the natural light can be extremely beneficial," he says.

"People also should try to avoid refined sugar and starchy foods," Dr. Dumerauf continues. "In the winter, we have a tendency to binge anyway, and eating unhealthy foods can lead to a vicious cycle of weight gain and depression."

In more severe cases of SAD, an antidepressant may be used with light therapy.

If you think you have SAD, talk to your doctor. "We all tend to get sad from time to time during the winter," concludes Dr. Dumerauf, "but people with seasonal affective disorder meet the criteria for major depressive episodes. It can affect their work and family life. They should seek medical attention."

Home>