RMS topic: WINTER DEPRESSION! Some people actually LIKE the cold weather. And they may be less susceptible to winter depression. But for many of us, as many as 25% (maybe more!), low mood in winter, all the way to full blown Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is possible. While keeping up healthy Vitamin D levels may help some of us to some degree more than others. What is probably most #RealityMeetsScience (TM) approved, and only takes about 1 week for benefit (vs anti depressants, like Wellbutrin which are FDA approved for SAD but which may take 6-8 weeks) as a recent WebMD article noted: ...about 30 minutes of (10,000 LUX strength light box) exposure done first thing in the morning. Timing is very important, and by administering it first thing in the morning, you keep your body clock on its springtime cycle during the winter, and thats how the depressive symptoms are lifted. These sunboxes can be placed on a desk or table while you eat breakfast or work. Reality Meets Science note: I have good patient experience with 10,000 LUX (LUX is a measure of light intensity...and regular house or building lights do NOT work like these light boxes do), and they do work. Heck, this winter I AM even thinking of getting one! If you want to research different companies that make them just Google 10,000 LUX lights. There is another evidence based therapy as well, apparently, though Ive never tried one on a patient, which are commercially available negative ionizers which have some evidence of effectiveness. Not as much data with them vs 10,000 LUX Light Boxes, but if I had a patient case of non-response to correcting Vitamin D deficiency (very common), 10k LUX light therapy and exercise, I would consider it. Also, WASH THOSE HANDS! GETTING THE FLU OR A COLD IS LITERALLY A RISK FACTOR FOR WINTER BLUES. Careful where you put those fingers on your face (in fact, keep them away from your face as much as possible, though thats a hard habit to break!), avoid sick people when possible (hard when you live with them!) and, yes, I know Ill get some people (whom I respectfully disagree with), but you should have gotten (and its still not too late to get) YOUR ANNUAL FLU SHOT (which most should be getting yearly!), unless your one of the VERY few who have an immediate allergy or serious FDA recognized contraindication. And if you want some #BlueZones driven bad news for those negative on vaccinations (and I have listened and read patiently and dispassionately on this topic because Im open minded to ALL effective therapies whether natural, lifestyle, Eastern, Western, non-medication based or reasonable meds) that are REASONABLY EVIDENCE BASED. And that is this: being a student of longevity societies (aka Blue Zones, as well described by author Dan Buettner and NOT related to winter blues) and traveling personally to observe to two of the 5 confirmed Blue Zones personally (Sardinia, Italy and Nicoya, Costa Rica), one thing Blue Zone (longevity societies) people generally do NOT do is avoid vaccinations! In fact, in Costa Ricas Blue Zone of Nicoya, Nicoyans have a rate of vaccination higher than the rest of the already highly vaccinated country (well over 70%). So while I know people have concerns over vaccinations, please put your practical reality hats on and understand this: for most general vaccinations (flu, pneumonia, shingles and childhood vaccines included against measles and whooping cough, which are making a comeback likely in part due to overhype against vaccines) the benefits outweigh the risk. Personal RMS note: Im vaccinated every year against the flu since working at St Joseph Mercy Oakland over the last 6 years and have NEVER gotten the flu since despite MUCH exposure to sick persons. Now please stay healthy, enjoy this good food for thought and MAKE it a GREAT DAY! #RMS = RealityMeetsScience #WinterBlues #SAD #VitaminD #LightTherapy #BlueZones #WashHands
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 09:17:05 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015