Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Week in Review

THIS WEEK IN THE HSI HEALTHIER TALK COMMUNITY

'Tis the season to be jolly, but for many folks who live in northern latitudes, 'tis also the season when some are laid low by seasonal affective disorder (SAD); a form of depression triggered by a lack of exposure to sunlight.

How do you offset the effects of SAD without antidepressant drugs? I remember a funny episode of the old TV show "Northern Exposure" in which several characters wore visors with built-in lights that helped reduce SAD. But when one of the characters began overusing his visor, his friends performed an intervention to help him kick the habit. That's an amusing idea, but you certainly couldn't fault someone in Alaska for getting hooked on a feel-good light.

In a Healthier Talk community thread titled "Seasonal Affective Disorder" a member named Klutzo describes one of these visor devices: "I use a Biobrite light visor for 30 minutes each morning. Wearing a visor is easier than using a light box, since you can still walk around and get your work done by clipping the power pak to your belt. Then you charge the unit at night. You can pick the brightness you want and the time you want to use it. It helps with Jet lag too."

In another thread titled "Sunlight boosts serotonin," a member named Naturalway shares the results of an interesting study that people with SAD might find useful: "Scientists at Wake Forest University in North Carolina had regular tanning-booth patrons test out two tanning beds that looked and felt exactly alike - except that one emitted UV rays and the other didn't. When given the option to return to the bed of their choice, 92 percent of the subjects chose the one that radiated UV, adding they found it more relaxing."

A member named JonB elaborates on UV: "I am not sure of the serotonin, but I do know that full spectrum UV stimulates the posterior pineal gland to produce melatonin, which, among other things, is our sleep hormone. That could also be a reason people liked the UV bed."

Sunlight prompts the body to produce vitamin D, which is one of the factors that may help prevent SAD. A member named Darlene who lives in Washington State says she's suffered from SAD for about 20 years but finds help from a good source of vitamin D: "I use Carlson's Cod Liver oil in winter, and a special therapy lamp. It does help me to sleep less. I use 2 tsp. of cod liver oil per day, when the days get more sunny, I slow down. In summer, I use salmon oil just for the good things it does for the body."

You can find more member comments about SAD by using the Healthier Talk search feature. Just enter "seasonal AND affective AND disorder" for a listing of forum threads that address this condition.

Other topics being discussed this week in the Healthier Talk community forums include:

• Dental: Mouth wash
• Cancer: Food for cancer
• Diabetes: Proven to cure diabetes
• Vision: Eye twitch
• Product Questions: Soapmaking
• General Health Topics: Calcium and magnesium

****************************************************

RAVEN MAD

It's a great feeling to watch your team bounce back from a slump, lead the charge, and come from behind to steal a game they were supposed to lose by two touchdowns.

At least I assume it is.

The Ravens did some of that last week against Denver. They haven't actually bounced back from a slump, with four turnovers you can't say they really lead the charge, and they came from behind but really just to end up less behind.

There's no denying it though; it was a game that Kyle Boller cost the team - pure and simple. Two interceptions from balls he forced and an odd, unprovoked fumble took away too many chances from the Ravens and put the ball back in Denver's hands too soon and too often.

Overall, the team played well enough to lose by only 2 points (and to hold Denver to one touchdown), but Boller needs to learn how to manage the game, the team, and (most importantly) himself as well in the first 58 minutes as he's been doing in the last 2.

There's a saying when strange things happen in a game: "That's why they play 60 minutes of football." Apparently Boller isn't familiar with that one.

Monday night, we will be out at the stadium, freezing ourselves while watching two teams (that few would have predicted would be doing so poorly at this point) battle for pride - or a better draft pick - when Green Bay travels south to Baltimore. In any other year, watching Brett Favre face Ed Reed would be worth the frostbite. Unfortunately, they're playing in 2005.