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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
The disorder affects women more often than it does men: about three-
Variations in light intensity alter hormone levels. In the evening the melatonin levels increase, but drop off again in the morning. During the day, the level of serotonin hormone is at its peak. But which hormone is ultimately to blame for depressive mood changes is still unclear.
If a lack of light can create such problems then bright light should prevent it.
Many cultures from latitudes with long winters must know this. They light bonfires
to drive away the ‘evil spirits’, or go on vacations to sunnier places. A little
more sophisticated and effective is the modern bright light therapy. Many patients
respond well to short periods of high-
Sun-
Light plays an important role in the biological rhythms of humans. For you, this syndrome may be nothing else than the cause for a bad mood and hopefully doesn’t affect your daily life. But up to 5% of people living in areas with seasonal low light suffer from the more serious seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Well, here is something you really want to blame on the weather. Oversleeping, lethargy, weight gain, craving for sweets are some of the mild symptoms of SAD or the ‘winter blues’. For some, however, the disorder can also show itself in severe depressions. The very unfortunate are no longer able to work effectively and lose all interest in social activities.
