Don't
Let Old Man Winter Get You Down!

by Judie Bizzozero

With the advent of winter comes shorter days and longer, colder nights. While many people welcome the change of season with open arms, some make the transition a little slower and, perhaps, unhappier.

This phenomenon is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it varies from what we commonly call the winter blues.

Exercise only helps to improve your body and your self-esteem.

According to MayoClinic.com, about one in 20 Americans feels the effects of SAD. The disorder usually rears its head during adolescence or young adulthood, with approximately 75 percent of those affected being women. Although some people outgrow the condition, others endure a lifetime of seasonal highs and lows.

While researchers are not entirely sure what causes SAD, they believe one culprit is the reduction in daylight hours during the fall and winter, which can disrupt the balance of the body's internal clock--otherwise known as the circadian rhythm.

SAD also has been linked to an imbalance of the chemicals melatonin and serotonin, which can lead to feelings of depression. Melatonin is a light-sensitive hormone-stimulated by decreases in light and released from the pineal gland in the brain. The hormone has been associated with regulating the body's internal clock, decreasing body temperature and causing drowsiness. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter thought to play a role in regulating mood and improving memory, attention and focus.

Additionally, doctors believe that your body's chemical makeup, heredity and the amount of stress all are variables that make up the SAD equation. Doctors also believe that the incidence of SAD varies based on the environment. For example, up to 10 percent of Alaskans suffer from winter depression, whereas less than 1 percent of sunny Florida's population does.

If you or someone you know suffers from some of these symptoms, please consult a physician. Treatments for SAD can be very accessible and vary from medications to light therapy to psychotherapy.

You can take control of your body by increasing the amount of light in your home or office by opening blinds and curtains and trimming back heavy foliage that blocks the sun's rays. Some people have reported a substantial upswing just by going outdoors during a sunny day.

Getting up off the couch also can help curb the symptoms because exercise helps to relieve stress and anxiety that can punctuate the disorder. Besides, exercise only helps to improve your body and your self-esteem.

If you don't have time for an outdoor workout, stop by your local tanning salon for a dose of moderate, controlled exposure to UVR. In past issues of SunWellness®, we've preached the Good News about indoor tanning and its positive effects. The typical indoor tanning unit allows you the access to ultraviolet light you may be lacking but in a controlled environment as opposed to the sun's emission.

Tanning lamps emit primarily Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation with a small amount of Ultraviolet B (UVB). The percentage of UVA and UVB is carefully controlled through the lamp's design. Since UVA is responsible for the completion of the tanning process and UVB actually initiates the tanning process, it provides you with a great-looking tan while possibly alleviating some of SAD's symptoms.