Light therapy consists of exposing a strong light (of 10 000 lux) for about half an hour.

This treatement is done with the help of special light therapy lamps.

In autumn or winter a large number of people feel tired, have no energy, their morale is low and they eat more than usual.  For certain people, this state could send them into depression.

These symptoms are due to our metabolisms hard adaptation to the autumn winter season, with shorter darker and depressive days.

At its peak this phenomenon is called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).  It can also show itself in a lighter form called “Winter Blues”.

These phenomenons are between the months of September and March.

Nearly 20% of the population suffers from winter blues.  5% of the population becomes victims of deep depression: Loss of sense of humour, a desire to be alone, weight gain and a loss of interest for usual activities.

Light therapy is a simple, effective and medically recognised way to beat these symptoms.

Find all the information you need on light therapy at Solvital. 

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What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) ?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) also known as winter depression affects around 2 million British citizens each year. Symptoms are most common in people aged between 18-30 years ancient. It is thought that twice as many women are affected than men, but this could be clarified by the fact that men are less likely to admit to being depressed.

Sufferers usually experience no mental health problems throughout most of the year, but tend to develop depressive symptoms during the winter months. It is common that symptoms occur amongst sufferers between September and April each year with symptoms at their worst in December, January and February.

Symptoms of SAD

The symptoms of SAD vary between different people. A small percentage of SAD sufferers struggle to cope during the winter without continuous treatment. But for the majority of SAD sufferers, symptoms tend to be less intense and last for shorter periods of time.

The most common symptoms of SAD (of which many are associated with general depression) include:

General Depression – feeling glooming
Mood Swings
Social Withdrawal – not wanting to see people
Anxiety – Inability to cope
Lethargy / Tiredness – no energy for everyday tasks
Sleep Problems – oversleeping and not wanting to get out of bed
Overeating – cravings for carbohydrates, leading to weight gain
Frequent Illness – due to a weakened immune system
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Loss of libido

What Causes SAD

The exact cause of SAD is still unknown. But most theories centre on light deficiency during the winter months due to the shortening of daylight hours and a lack of sunshine.

Light helps to trigger messages to a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which helps to control mood, sleep and appetite. A lack of exposure to light and problems with certain brain chemicals is thought to prevent the hypothalamus from functioning properly.

It is common for SAD sufferers to have lower levels of a brain chemical called Serotonin. Serotonin helps to transmit messages from nerve cells to the brain and has a role in “lifting the mood”. It is thought that the development of Serotonin is affected by exposure to sunlight and therefore a lack of exposure to sunlight will mean that less Serotonin will be produced.

SAD sufferers are likely to respond to a decrease in light by producing more of a chemical called Melatonin during winter than non SAD Sufferers. Melatonin helps to slow down the body clock, affects sleep and alters mood patterns. When sufferers are treated with bright light, their Melatonin levels tend to return to normal. But using light therapy to affect Melatonin levels will not completely cure SAD.

Diagnosis of SAD

A GP will be able to advise you whether the symptoms present, are being caused by SAD. SAD is hard to diagnose as the symptoms of the condition are very similar to those of other types of depression and other mental health conditions.

One occurrence of the aforementioned symptoms does not automatically mean that you have SAD.

Diagnosis will usually take place when the symptoms have been experienced during the same months (usually winter), followed by the symptoms clearing in the following months (spring), over a period of two or more consecutive years.

Treatment For SAD

Research in recent years has shown that SAD sufferers have responded dramatically to “light therapy”. By exposing SAD sufferers to summertime levels of daylight during the winter, it is possible to reduce the negative symptoms of SAD. Research has shown that light therapy works in around 80% of people, and an improvement in symptoms can be achieved in as small as 3 to 5 days.

Light therapy (also known as photo therapy) involves exposure to very bright light for extended periods each day. The aim of light therapy is to stimulate a change in the brain chemicals and hormones that affect the mood.

Light boxes are ideal source for light therapy. A light box gives out a light that is up to 10 times stronger than normal light. The necessary length of exposure depends on the strength of the light box and the recommended daily dose of light for SAD sufferers is 5,000 lux.

Although light boxes are the ultimate source of light for SAD sufferers, functional Daylight Lamps and Daylight Bulbs can also be bought to enable the user to read, colour match and conduct fine detailed work, whilst exposing the user to increased levels of natural daylight during the darker winter months. This exposure can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of SAD whilst you are working.

Before conducting any light therapy, it is advised that you visit your GP in order to choose which form of light therapy will be best for you.

• Dimensions: 18 x 18 x 24 cm
• Variable sunrise and sunset, 15,30,45 & 90 minutes
• Powerful 40W halogen lamp
• Reading light with variable intensity
• Bleeper and snooze options

SAD Light DawnLite Natural Alarm Clock

The lamp mimics a morning sunrise and it will reach full brightness at the alarm wake up time you have chosen. You can choose to wake up to the gradually brightening light or also set the alarm sounder which gradually increases in volume

• The Sunrise System may also be of benefit for the following health and lifestyle problems: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
• Insomnia and disrupted sleeping patterns
• stress (helps with relaxation)
• may improve the sleeping habits of children, teenagers and the elderly.
• Help sleeping problems caused by jet lag, shift work etc.

Sunrise System UK Model (SRS100UK) Sunrise Natural Alarm Clock to reduce SAD symptoms Use with your existing lamp

We all know when we have a excellent nights sleep we awake refreshed and ready to face the day ahead. We need sleep to restore and rejuvenate our body and brain, but with our 24 hour society, shift work and stresses of work and family life we are not always able to get the amount of sleep we need. So it is more vital than ever to make the most of the sleep we do get.
When you are ready for sleep, set the sunset mode on your DawnLite Natural Alarm Clock an

• Many of us despise the dark mornings during the winter and find waking up increasingly hard. The DawnLite Natural Alarm Clock helps to wake you naturally. As the lamp brightens gradually your body automatically responds to the increasing light and you awake feeling refreshed and invigorated.
• The DawnLite Natural Alarm Clock is a gentle and altogether cooler way to start the day. Instead of being shaken awake in the dark winter months with a noisy radio or bleeper, the DawnLite will naturally and gradually increase the light in the room to replicate a summer dawn
• With its practical, modern and sleek design, the DawnLite Natural Alarm Clock is also a bright reading light and when you are ready for sleep you can start your own sunset to help promote a deeper, more restful sleep.
• Research has found that, as its light stimulates your bodys natural response to sunrise and sunset, the Natural Alarm Clock can help synchronise the circadian rhythms – your body clock,-improving energy, mood and efficiency.
• Feel fantastic and Boost your energy level

The DawnLite Natural Alarm Clock

Sunrise: simulates a sunrise over a period of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 or 90 minutes. Set to suit your preference.
Sunset: simulates a sunset over a period of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 or 90 minutes. Set to suit your preference.
The lamp brightness can also be manually controlled and set to any level, for example – to brighten the lamp for reading.
All functions of the Sunrise System are indicated on the large orange backlit LCD show to clearly show the

• The Sunrise System may also be of benefit for the following health and lifestyle problems: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), Insomnia and disrupted sleeping patterns, stress (helps with relaxation), may improve the sleeping habits of children, teenagers and the elderly and Help sleeping problems caused by jet lag, shift work etc.
• The Sunrise SRS 200 Dawn Simulator uses the latest technology to make a natural light alarm clock.
• The Sunrise SRS 200 Dawn Simulator combines the innovative features of the original Sunrise System with an integral lamp to enable you to wake or relax with dawn or dusk light simulation set to suit your own pattern of waking and sleeping.
• The integral lamp mimics a morning sunrise and it will reach full brightness at the wake up time you have chosen. At that time you can wake to a sounder or you can choose to wake with just the dawn light simulation.
• The lamp mimics a morning sunrise and it will reach full brightness at the alarm wake up time you have chosen. You can choose to wake up to the gradually brightening light or also set the alarm sounder which gradually increases in volume to wake you gently and naturally. No more harsh awakenings!

Sunrise System UK Model (SRS200UK) Sunrise Natural Alarm Clock to reduce SAD Symptoms With built in lamp

Alarm Clock with Natural Sounds

Acctim Natural Sounds Alarm Clock

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