Navigation Links
Lack of Light and Seasonal Depression - What's the Link? From the Harvard Health Letter
Date:12/17/2007

BOSTON, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --- People troubled by depression usually experience their dark moods in an on-again, off-again fashion. In that respect, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) differs only in that the oscillations follow a seasonal schedule, with the depression usually starting in the fall and lasting through the spring. Lack of light is often blamed for SAD, but just how darker days cause depression in SAD sufferers is still in question, reports the January 2008 issue of the Harvard Health Letter.

Experts debate whether it has been proved that lack of sunlight in winter triggers SAD, but there's certainly circumstantial evidence to support the connection. How might lack of light cause depression? The Harvard Health Letter discusses three theories:

1. The root cause may be insensitivity to light. Most of us go

through winter on a relatively even keel because exposure to

indoor lighting helps offset the lack of natural light, but

indoor light may be too weak for SAD sufferers.

2. There are neural pathways from the eyes' retinas to parts of

the brain that help put many of our physiological processes

on a 24-hour cycle. Lack of light may put people with SAD out

of phase with their biological clocks: awake and active when

their internal timers want them snug in bed.

3. A lack of light, or insensitivity to it, may disrupt

brain processes influenced by serotonin and dopamine, brain

chemicals that play a role in mood.

Light therapy, which involves sitting in front of a bright light for a short time each day, helps some people who suffer from SAD. But antidepressant medications may work just as well, says the Harvard Health Letter.

Also in this issue:

-- Treating the common cold

-- Illegal use of human growth hormone

-- Types of vitamin E

-- Tre
'/>"/>

SOURCE Harvard Health Letter
Copyright©2007 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. Stanford study highlights cost-effective method of lowering heart disease risks
2. Study shines more light on benefit of vitamin D in fighting cancer
3. Bacteria See the Light
4. Quantum light beams good for fast technology
5. Free will takes flight: how our brains respond to an approaching menace
6. New MRI finding sheds light on multiple sclerosis disease progressio
7. RA Drugs Linked to Slight Skin Cancer Risk
8. QUANTEL Intends to Strengthen its Dermatology/ Aesthetics Division With the Acquisition of WaveLight Aesthetic GmbH
9. REACH Registry Highlights That Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Suffer High Rates of Heart Attack, Stroke, Hospitalization, and Death
10. Cardiovascular Technologies to be Highlighted at 5th Annual Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit, Oct. 1-3
11. First Circuit Court of Appeals Rules Against Philip Morris in Lights Class Action
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/22/2013)... On a Saturday morning last summer, MSgt. Joe DesLauriers ... Bourne Legacy” at the White Flint Mall movie theater in ... activity to many couples, it is a pure luxury for ... everyday reality has become possible through the Military Family Respite ... , Life changed for the DesLauriers family on Sept. 23, ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... York, New York (PRWEB) May 22, 2013 ... the nation’s first trial involving a da Vinci lawsuit, ... the case, the family of a man who allegedly died ... seeking more than $8 million in damages from Intuitive Surgical, ... down its physician training program for the da Vinci Surgical ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... Nearly 50,000 veterans appeals were received ... year 2012, with even more—54,033—expected by fiscal year-end 2013. ... decision as the agency reports reduced decisions and a ... disability appeal services. The BVA is an agency ... the BVA received 49,611 cases in FY 2012, it ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... CORVALLIS, Ore. A new study shows there is ... self-control in American young children one that does ... In the United States, girls had higher levels of ... to control their behavior and impulses, follow directions, and ... academic performance and college completion, in past studies by ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... May 22, 2013 Successful Therapy ... Patricia O’Laughlin Psychotherapy in the Silver Lake community ... all ages as progression to existing Parents and ... ages into parenting therapy has always been suggested, ... O’Laughlin Psychotherapy now specializes in all aspects of ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Military Family Finds Respite with Easter Seals 2Health News:Military Family Finds Respite with Easter Seals 3Health News:Da Vinci Robot Lawsuits: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes Beginning of Jury Deliberations in Nation’s First Trial Involving Alleged Da Vinci Surgery Complications 2Health News:Da Vinci Robot Lawsuits: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes Beginning of Jury Deliberations in Nation’s First Trial Involving Alleged Da Vinci Surgery Complications 3Health News:Da Vinci Robot Lawsuits: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes Beginning of Jury Deliberations in Nation’s First Trial Involving Alleged Da Vinci Surgery Complications 4Health News:Veterans Disability Appeals See Fewer Decisions in FY2012, Reports Allsup 2Health News:'Boys will be boys' in US, but not in Asia 2Health News:'Boys will be boys' in US, but not in Asia 3Health News:Patricia O’Laughlin Psychotherapy of Los Angeles Now Seeing Adults, Teens and Young Children 2
... 28, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC) The American ... Foundation (CRF) announced today a multi-year partnership to ... in Orlando, Fla., March 2831, 2009, during ACC.09, ... worlds premier cardiovascular meeting. This will be ...
... Wins First Canadian Golf Tour Title While Wearing Surgex(TM) Branded ... ... virus and a late bogey to capture his first Canadian Tour title,at the ... victory places the former University of Texas standout in prime,position to qualify for ...
... acid molecules fabricated in the laboratory have been shown ... 1 diabetes in animal models. The results of these ... G. Rangos Sr. Research Center at Childrens Hospital of ... a research study at Childrens Hospital, the scientists injected ...
... ("DRAXIS"),(TSX: DAX) (NASDAQ: DRAX ) announced today the ... common shares have been acquired by,an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary ... a result, DRAXIS common stock is expected to cease,trading ... Stock Exchange at,market close on Thursday, May 29, 2008, ...
... in the May 28, 2008 edition of The Journal ... action of certain brain cells altered by chronic alcohol ... the central amygdala, which plays an important role in ... alcohol drinking. In the study, alcohol-dependent rodents receiving gabapentin ...
... being,issued by the National Academy of Social Insurance:, ... 3:30 pm Seminar: Growing Risks for Workers and Growing ... from Behavioral Economics to Control Health Costs, Peter ... Benefits, Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary of the ...
Cached Medicine News:Health News:ACC and CRF announce partnership on ACC's Innovation in Intervention: i2 Summit 2Health News:Surgex(TM) Fuels 2008 San Luis Potosi Open Champion Russell Surber Through Grueling 36 Hole Final Day 2Health News:Surgex(TM) Fuels 2008 San Luis Potosi Open Champion Russell Surber Through Grueling 36 Hole Final Day 3Health News:New vaccine approach prevents/reverses diabetes in lab study at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh 2Health News:New vaccine approach prevents/reverses diabetes in lab study at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh 3Health News:DRAXIS Announces Completion of Sale to Jubilant 2Health News:DRAXIS Announces Completion of Sale to Jubilant 3Health News:DRAXIS Announces Completion of Sale to Jubilant 4Health News:Scripps Research scientists find seizure drug reverses cellular effects 2
(Date:5/22/2013)... 2013 Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & ... of purchasers of the securities of AMAG Pharmaceuticals, ... The investigation focuses on whether the Company and ... On May 22, 2013, Shares of AMAG dropped ... company announced in regulatory filing that it has ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... and MUNICH , May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ ... marketer of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) systems for the ... results of the J enaValve Eval U ation of ... Pa T ients with S E vere Ao R tic ... . JUPITER is a post-market registry to evaluate five-year long ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... May 22, 2013 The new 13-valent pneumococcal ... the previous version used prior to 2010, the 7-valent ... study published today in Vaccine. The U.S. ... in 2010 after a series of trials. These trials ... of pneumococcal types than the previously used PCV7, did ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC Announces Investigation of AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2First Results Of The JUPITER Registry On Long Term Performance And Safety Of The Transapical JenaValve TAVI System 2First Results Of The JUPITER Registry On Long Term Performance And Safety Of The Transapical JenaValve TAVI System 3First Results Of The JUPITER Registry On Long Term Performance And Safety Of The Transapical JenaValve TAVI System 4Kaiser Permanente Study Finds New Pneumococcal Vaccine Appears to be as Safe as Previously Used Vaccine 2Kaiser Permanente Study Finds New Pneumococcal Vaccine Appears to be as Safe as Previously Used Vaccine 3Kaiser Permanente Study Finds New Pneumococcal Vaccine Appears to be as Safe as Previously Used Vaccine 4
... Progen,Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: PGL; Nasdaq: PGLA) today announced ... PI-88 as an adjuvant,treatment for primary liver cancer ... patient having been randomized,onto the study. The study ... treatment of HCC). The first patient to enter ...
... SILVER SPRING, Md., March 11 In a boost ... to provide a,royalty-free license to the non-profit International Partnership ... use as a,potential vaginal microbicide., The compound, called ... known as gp41 fusion inhibitors, which inhibit HIV infection ...
Cached Medicine Technology:Progen Announces Commencement of Global Phase 3 Study for PI-88 in Post- Resection Liver Cancer 2Progen Announces Commencement of Global Phase 3 Study for PI-88 in Post- Resection Liver Cancer 3Progen Announces Commencement of Global Phase 3 Study for PI-88 in Post- Resection Liver Cancer 4Microbicide Developer Receives License for Novel HIV Microbicide Candidate From Merck & Co., Inc. 2Microbicide Developer Receives License for Novel HIV Microbicide Candidate From Merck & Co., Inc. 3
Used where access is required into superior meniscal flap region....
This family of punches offers the best of both worlds the lowest profile and the largest bite, facilitating end-on and lateral cutting the most versatile instrument available....
The narrow shaft and compact jaw design facilitates access and use in tight spaces, particularly useful in the posterior aspect of the knee....
... Hand Instruments were developed in surgeon's desire ... still having an instrument with the strength ... fear of the bending or breaking. Arthrotek ... to conform to the surgeon's hand. This ...
Medicine Products: