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Archive for May, 2010

Seasonal Affective Disorder in the Elderly

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

How old you are has a lot to do with how much you sleep but also when you get that sleep. Babies sleep most of the time, little kids often wake up early, teenagers sleep past noon, and older people seem to sleep less.

The elderly are affected by depression due to changes in their lives, such as death of a loved one or isolation. Seasonal affective disorder is one type of depression that can affect the elderly, especially those who are housebound. While the most common form of seasonal affective disorder occurs during the fall and winter months, rare forms can happen during the spring and summer months.

Seasonal affective disorder is thought to be caused by a lack of ambient light, changes in body temperature or issues with hormone regulation. Elderly patients, who do not go outside often, especially during the fall and winter months, are susceptible. Also, seasonal affective disorder can develop into major depression.

Seasonal affective disorder is most often seen in the elderly during the fall and winter months. Symptoms include social withdrawal, decreased energy and concentration, lethargic movement, carbohydrate cravings, increased sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, decreased interest in activities and increased appetite with weight gain.

If you find as you get older that your sleep pattern changes, you shouldn‚Äôt automatically assume that there‚Äôs a problem. As long as you‚Äôre otherwise healthy and you‚Äôre getting adequate sleep, it could just be¬†your circadian rhythm changing because of age. But talk to your doctor for additional help and advice, or if your side effects don‚Äôt go away or get worse.

Tags: Depression, Elderly, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Summer SAD, Teens
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Light Therapy & Parkinson’s Disease

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Light therapy is most commonly used for treating different kinds of depression.¬† Recently, light therapy has been used to treat Parkinson‚Äôs disease, not just the depression of Parkinson‚Äôs patients but to help alleviate motor problems as well.

Bright light stimulates two neurotransmitters that Parkinson‚Äôs sufferers lack: serotonin and dopamine. When light reaches a certain level of intensity, it inhibits melatonin which in turn limits the production of dopamine. By limiting the melatonin, in theory, you will have better production and use of dopamine in the brain.

Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone, has also been associated with seasonal affective disorder. Melatonin is made with the amino acid called tryptophan. This hormone has been linked to depression and is produced at higher levels of darkness.¬† Darkness also increases the production of melatonin. In most cases, this is a good thing. As daylight wanes, most people are preparing to sleep for the night. Darkness helps melatonin to aid in this natural process. In the winter when the days are shorter and darker, melatonin is produced which can then lead to symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, derived from tryptophan. In order for messages to be transmitted properly, neurotransmitters must pass a sort of baton between these runners. If serotonin levels are low, certain messages cannot be sent correctly or quickly enough through the nervous system. As darkness aids in producing melatonin, sunlight aids in the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Without sufficient sunlight, the body may not produce enough serotonin. This can cause a drop in energy levels, a general sense of confusion or “fogginess” and other symptoms typically associated with depression.

Recent case studies of light therapy on Parkinson’s Disease patients involving¬†bright light therapy¬†have had positive results with marked improvement in bradykinesia and rigidity in most patients while being exposed for only ninety minutes. After two weeks the study also showed increased mood, improved sleep, decreased seborrhea, reduced impotence and increased appetite. This change was so significant; some patients were able to have their medication reduced by 50% without the loss of efficiency.

Tags: Light box, Light Therapy, Parkinson's Disease, SAD light, SAD lights
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Be Cautious With Blue Light Therapy

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Blue light therapy boxes have been on the market these days.¬† Most of them advertise for helping with acne, but some advertise for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The downfall to blue light therapy is there¬†hasn’t¬†been a lot of research on the long-term exposure risks.¬† Blue light therapy dramatically raises the risk of light-induced retinal damage from light therapy. Macular degeneration is where a person eventually loses the vision in the center of their visual field because the macula ‚Äì the small central portion of the retina ‚Äì deteriorates.¬† It can make it difficult or even impossible to recognize or read faces, although the peripheral vision remains intact.¬† Optometrists are telling their patients who have or are developing macular degeneration to avoid blue light.

So who should avoid using a blue light box? Those of us who are prone to macular problems due to genetics, nutrition, environment, health habits, diabetes, and aging should avoid using blue light. However, epidemiological evidence has found that even for young adults, in their teens and thirties, a moderate increase in blue light exposure will advance the onset of macular degeneration later in life by 10 years, which would double the likelihood of becoming blind in one‚Äôs lifetime. People with fair skin or light-colored eyes can be susceptible to macular degeneration by blue light because they have less melanin in their irises.¬† Melanin is the substance that gives eyes their color; it also protects the macula from light rays so they don‚Äôt cause damage.

Because blue light is not necessary for effective light therapy, it has been recommended that light therapy devices screen out the potentially hazardous blue light wavelengths, and that light therapy devices emitting blue wavelengths of light should not be used until the potential hazard from blue light from light therapy devices is resolved.

Tags: Blue Light, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder
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Seasonal Affective Disorder in Children

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Seasonal Affective Disorder in children is a lot less common than in adults. But that is because symptoms are milder and someone what hidden than symptoms in adults.¬† Research suggests that around 1 million school-age children and teens in the U.S. suffer from SAD.¬† SAD seems to get worse as people age, but may appear at any stage in a person‚Äôs life.

Symptoms in children occur when they are in school, which can be a stressful time anyway.¬† Parents may mistake symptoms for just problems in school.¬† It can take years before a child is diagnosed because parents and children don‚Äôt recognize the seasonal patterns.¬† It‚Äôs important to keep an eye for warning symptoms that your child is suffering from seasonal affective disorder.

Symptoms include: tiredness or loss of energy, crankiness or irritability – crying in spells, problems in school ‚Äì including difficulty concentrating and doing schoolwork, oversleeping ‚Äì including difficulty waking up in the morning, and over eating ‚Äì especially carbohydrate cravings.

Parents of children and teens with SAD should participate in their treatment.¬† Learn about the disorder and share it with your child.¬† They may need help with homework, so make time to help them.¬† Make sure the child‚Äôs teachers know of your child‚Äôs situation.¬† The important thing is to make sure your child is getting the help that they need to feel better.

Light therapy is drug-free treatment for SAD, so it is safe for older children.¬† Children can sit in front of a light therapy box while eating breakfast, doing homework, watching TV, reading a book or may other options. If you think that your child might be suffering from seasonal affective disorder, it’s important that you contact your child’s physician immediately to discuss diagnosis and treatment.

Tags: Children, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Teens
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Diet & Exercise for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

For a few years now, doctors and health experts have all advised about the positive effects of exercise.¬† It provides your body with endorphins that help you be more positive and have a better mood. Diet and exercise are important factors for Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferers.¬† Although one of the symptoms of SAD is that your appetite and diet change.¬† Many people have the problem with their appetite increasing and they want to eat more frequently.

While treatments like light therapy work, exercise will help keep you feeling better everyday. Exercising regularly makes a difference.¬† You only need to exercise for a small amount of time to notice a difference in your life.

The chemicals serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, in our brain, affect how we feel, our mood and our energy levels.¬† Proteins and carbohydrates stimulate production of these chemicals.¬† Protein helps stabilize blood sugar levels and gives you the amino acid tryptophan which is used by the brain to make serotonin. The production of dopamine is also boosted, which affects movement and to express emotions. Carbohydrates help tryptophan and serotonin production too.

SAD sufferers need a good balance of complex carbohydrates and protein.¬† Lean proteins such as: lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, low-fat dairy products, tofu or nuts are helpful in a diet.¬† Carbohydrates such as whole grains, bread, pasta, rice and potatoes are good as well. You will want to get your daily does of vegetables and fruit in addition.

People can become depressed when they are feeling bored or apathetic. By staying active during the winter months, these feelings can be less noticeable.¬† For those who suffer from SAD being outdoors or in front of a light box during exercise implies more lighting during the winter months.¬† It is important to choose an activity that you enjoy and is motivating for you; otherwise you won‚Äôt stick to it for long.

Tags: Depression, Diet, Exercise, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder
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