Posts Tagged ‘Bright light therapy’
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Try light therapy. It can treat a number of sleep disorders.
First off, bright light therapy can help for Circadian Rhythm sleep disorder. The principle of light therapy is to imitate bright sunlight and in turn tune the body clock. The light is provided through a light box.
This therapy helps a person maintain a consistent circadian rhythm by sending a properly timed signal of light through the retina of the eye to the brain’s suprachaismatic nucleus, or body clock in the hypothalamus. Circadian rhythm disturbances respond very well to light therapy, especially bright light (>600 lux). The timing of light therapy also is important as it affects the degree and direction of the rhythm shift. The modes of therapy for different disorders are:
- Light therapy applied in the early evening and nighttime hours will delay the cycle for Advanced Circadian Rhythm Disorder (ACR)
- In the early morning light therapy will stimulate morning alertness and an earlier bedtime for Delayed Circadian Rhythm Disorder (DCR).
-Bimodal Circadian Rhythm Disorder (BCR) may cause a person to be awake during the night, so it is important to avoid light during the night. Use bright light in the mid morning, afternoon, late afternoon and evening while avoiding bright morning light before 9:00 am.
- For sighted people, bright morning light should regulate Non 24-hour Sleep/Wake Cycle symptoms or a free running circadian rhythm
Light therapy should always be used within the proper limits for intensity and time
Read more: Circadian Rhythm and Sleep Disorders – Treatment http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/sleep/Circadian_Rhythm_Sleep_Disorders_bright_light_therapy.htm#ixzz0yIalXpJT
Tags: Bright light therapy, Circadian Rhythm Disorder, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Sleep disorder, Sleep disorders, Sleep/Wake Cycle
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Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic illness, which causes immense physical pain and unbearable fatigue. The word ‘fibromyalgia’ actually means “pain in the fibrous tissues in the body” and as such does not involve the joints, as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It is not classified as a disease as it is a condition that causes many different symptoms, which affect all systems in the body. 90% of those affected are female (especially during child bearing ages) with most patients experiencing symptoms between the ages of twenty and forty. Children and the elderly can also be affected by FM.
So if you are suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome, you may be interested in trying a treatment that is associated with few side effects and positive results. Light therapy has been used for centuries in some countries to help cure chronic and acute pain. It is now available throughout North America to help reduce your fibromyalgia symptoms.
What is Light Therapy?
Light therapy is an alternative therapy used to help relieve a variety of physical illnesses, ranging from chronic pain to depression. Also known as phototherapy, light therapy delivers light beams to various areas of the body in order to trigger hormone release and healing. Practiced by physicians, physical therapists, and psychologists, light therapy uses bright, colored, and low-level forms of light to promote wellbeing.
Who Can Light Therapy Benefit?
Light therapy can offer long-term benefits to those suffering from a variety of health problems or illnesses. It is often used to treat:
- migraine headaches
- arthritis
- soft tissue injuries, including sprains and strains
- seasonal affective disorder
- depression
- sleep disorders
How Can Light Therapy Benefit Fibromyalgia?
Light therapy is particularly useful for treating fibromyalgia syndrome. It can help to reduce:
- muscle pain
- mood disorders and depression
- fatigue
- insomnia
Bright Light Therapy
Bright light therapy is the most commonly used form of light therapy. It is based on the idea that your body is specifically attuned to light. Known as the circadian rhythm, your body’s sleep cycle, energy levels, and mood are all governed by changes in natural light. Bright light therapy uses high-powered fluorescent lights to help trigger the release of specific hormones which will help to restore your body’s natural circadian rhythm and your overall health.
How Effective is Light Therapy?
The effectiveness of light therapy has been debated over the years. However, recent studies now suggest that light therapy is very effective at reducing symptoms of chronic pain, fatigue, headache, and depression. In a study of migraine sufferers, 99% of migraine patients experienced a reduction in the number of headaches they experienced after using light therapy. Another study analyzed light therapy in fibromyalgia sufferers. 66% of sufferers using low light laser therapy experienced a reduction in muscle pain symptoms.
Side Effects of Light Therapy
The side effects caused by light therapy tend to be minimal and temporary. The most common side effects include eye sensitivity and irritation. You may also experience some mild nausea at the beginning of your light therapy sessions. Some patients complain of becoming restless or over-stimulated by light therapy. Reducing the time spent in light therapy can help to eliminate this restlessness
Who Shouldn’t Use Light Therapy?
Light therapy isn’t for everybody. Be sure to speak with your health care provider before trying any form of light therapy.
Get more information at:
http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_light.html
Tags: Bright light therapy, Depression, Fibromyalgia, Insomnia, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD light, Sleep disorders
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Thursday, July 8th, 2010
Bright light therapy can ease bipolar depression in some patients, according to a study published in the journal Bipolar Disorders. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic studied nine women with bipolar disorder to examine the effects of light therapy in the morning or at midday on mood symptoms.
“There are limited effective treatments for the depressive phase of bipolar disorder,” said Dorothy Sit, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and the study’s first author. “While there are treatments that are effective for mania, the major problem is the depression, which can linger so long that it never really goes away.”
In this study, women with bipolar depression were given light boxes and instructed on how to use them at home. The women used the light boxes daily for two-week stretches of 15, 30 and 45 minutes. Some patients responded extremely well to the light therapy, and their symptoms of depression disappeared. The responders to light therapy stayed on the light therapy for an additional three or four months. Four patients received morning light, and five used their light boxes at midday. Participants also continued to take their prescribed medications throughout the study period.
“Three of the women who received morning light initially developed what we call a mixed state, with symptoms of depression and mania that occur all at once — racing thoughts, irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety and low mood,” said Dr. Sit. “But when another group began with midday light therapy, we found a much more stable response.”
Of the nine women treated, six achieved some degree of response, with several reaching full recovery from depressive symptoms. While most attained their best recovery with midday light, a few responded more fully to a final adjustment to morning light. “People with bipolar disorder are exquisitely sensitive to morning light, so this profound effect of morning treatment leading to mixed states is very informative and forces us to ask more questions,” said Dr. Sit. “Did we introduce light too early and disrupt circadian rhythms and sleep patterns?”
People with bipolar disorder are known to be sensitive to changes in outdoor ambient light and to seasonal changes. Researchers are asking whether the risk of suicide in patients with bipolar disorder could be linked to changes in light exposure.
“In our study, 44 percent of patients were full responders, and 22 percent were partial responders,” Dr. Sit and her colleagues write. “Light therapy, therefore, is an attractive and possibly effective augmentation strategy to improve the likelihood of full-treatment response.”
Optimal response was observed with midday light therapy for 45 or 60 minutes daily, noted Dr. Sit.
Other study authors are Katherine L. Wisner, M.D., Barbara H. Hanusa, Ph.D., and Stacy D. Stull, M.S., all of the Women’s Behavioral HealthCARE program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; and Michael Terman, Ph.D., Columbia University. Article: doi/full/10.1111/j.1399-5618.2007.00451.x
Researchers report funding from the Stanley Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Pfizer Inc., GlaxoSmithKline and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Tags: Bipolar Disorder, Bright light therapy, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD lights
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Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Pregnancy is a joyous occasion. Pregnancy, though, does not protect women from experiencing mild to severe depression. Medication and/or therapy may be recommended.
Treating depression is always important and it can be successfully treated during and after pregnancy. Some antidepressant/anti anxiety medications can be used safely throughout pregnancy and breast feeding.
A drug free way of treating depression during pregnancy is by using a light therapy box. Bright light therapy is as effective as the antidepressants in depression cure in pregnant women. Bright light therapy has yielded favorable results for curing depression in pregnancy. It also is quite safe as it does not have any side effects. It requires a patient to sit in front of a box for about 30 minutes a day, depending on the patient.
Here are some findings from research on pregnancy and depression:
- Babies born to moms with depression have an increased risk for irritability, less activity and attentiveness and fewer facial expressions.
- There are possible fetal abnormalities when mothers take antidepressants in the first trimester. But there’s not a particular pattern associated with a specific medication or class of medications.
Some specific treatment recommendations include:
- Talk to your provider early if you are planning to conceive. You can talk about the best options for you as an individual.
- Encourage the provider who will deliver your baby and your mental health provider to consult with each other on the best options for you. They will help you understand the risks and benefits of medication versus therapy, etc.
- If you are taking an antidepressant for depression, don’t discontinue or change your dose of medication on your own. This could be dangerous and your symptoms could worsen.
- Use bright light therapy as a drug free option to treat your depression during pregnancy.
- If you have severe depression and are pregnant, you should remain on medication.
Untreated depression during pregnancy has been proven to lead to higher rates of:
- Lower birth weights
- Pre-term labor (depression doubles the risk)
- Increased use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate
Please have a candid discussion with both your psychiatrist and OB-GYN regarding the benefits, risks and side effects of all medications. If you have been diagnosed with depression and are considering pregnancy, meet with your health providers before you get pregnant. This will provide peace of mind and help to make sure that you and your baby are both as healthy as possible.
Tags: Bright light therapy, Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, Pregnancy, SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression
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Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is very frequently associated with poor overnight sleep and daytime sleepiness. We have a regular internal sleep/wake cycle that keeps us awake and keeps our sleep time on track. Being exposed to bright light therapy has been shown to improve the sleep/wake cycle in people with sleep problems as well as in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
This study is being done to look at the effects that exposure to a bright light has on daytime sleepiness and night-time sleep in PD. About 30 people with Parkinson’s disease and sleep problems will be in this study. Bright light therapy involves sitting in front of a light box for 1 to 1. 5 hours several times a day for a few weeks.
Three clinic visits (approximately 1 hour each) and two 24-hour stays (including sleep studies) are involved in this study. There are also three 14-day periods in between the clinic visits where activity levels will be measured using an actiwatch, a small, watch-like device that measures movement throughout the day and night, and participants will complete daily sleep logs at home. During one of the 14-day periods, participants will use the light box as instructed at home.
Below is a link to the Northwestern University – Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center for Clinical Trial Participation:
http://www.parkinsons.northwestern.edu/clinical_trials.html
Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Bright light therapy, Clinical Trials, Elderly, Light box, Light Therapy, Parkinson's Disease, SAD lights
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