Heart disease affects an estimated 12.2 million American women and men and is the leading cause of death in the U.S.3 While about 1 in 20 American adults experiences major depression in a given year, the number goes to about one in three for people who have survived a heart attack.4,5

Depression and anxiety disorders may affect heart rhythms, increase blood pressure, and alter blood clotting. They can also lead to elevated insulin and cholesterol levels. These risk factors, with obesity, form a group of signs and symptoms that often serve as both a predictor of and a response to heart disease. Furthermore, depression or anxiety may result in chronically elevated levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. As high levels of stress hormones are signaling a “fight or flight” reaction, the body’s metabolism is diverted away from the type of tissue repair needed in heart disease.

Despite the enormous advances in brain research in the past 20 years, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Persons with heart disease, their families and friends, and even their physicians and cardiologists (physicians specializing in heart disease treatment) may misinterpret depression’s warning signs, mistaking them for inevitable accompaniments to heart disease. Symptoms of depression may overlap with those of heart disease and other physical illnesses. However, skilled health professionals will recognize the symptoms of depression and inquire about their duration and severity, diagnose the disorder, and suggest appropriate treatment.

Heart Disease Facts

Heart disease includes two conditions called angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction (“heart attack”). Like any muscle, the heart needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients that are carried to it by the blood in the coronary arteries. When the coronary arteries become narrowed or clogged and cannot supply enough blood to the heart, the result is coronary heart disease. If not enough oxygen-carrying blood reaches the heart, the heart may respond with pain called angina. The pain is usually felt in the chest or sometimes in the left arm and shoulder. (However, the same inadequate blood supply may cause no symptoms, a condition called silent angina.) When the blood supply is cut off completely, the result is a heart attack. The part of the heart that does not receive oxygen begins to die, and some of the heart muscle may be permanently damaged.

Chest pain (angina) or shortness of breath may be the earliest signs of heart disease. A person may feel heaviness, tightness, pain, burning, pressure, or squeezing, usually behind the breastbone but sometimes also in the arms, neck, or jaws. These signs usually bring the person to a doctor for the first time. Nevertheless, some people have heart attacks without ever having any of these symptoms.

Risk factors for heart disease other than depression include high levels of cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in the blood, high blood pressure, and smoking. On the average, each of these doubles the chance of developing heart disease. Obesity and physical inactivity are other factors that can lead to heart disease. Regular exercise, good nutrition, and smoking cessation are key to controlling the risk factors for heart disease.

Heart disease is treated in a number of ways, depending on how serious it is. For many people, heart disease is managed with lifestyle changes and medications, including beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, nitrates, and other classes of drugs. Others with severe heart disease may need surgery. In any case, once heart disease develops, it requires lifelong management.

Treatment for Depression

Effective treatment for depression is extremely important, as the combination of depression and heart disease is associated with increased sickness and death. Prescription antidepressant medications, particularly the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are generally well-tolerated and safe for people with heart disease. There are, however, possible interactions among certain medications and side effects that require careful monitoring. Therefore, people being treated for heart disease who develop depression, as well as people in treatment for depression who subsequently develop heart disease, should make sure to tell any physician they visit about the full range of medications they are taking.

Specific types of psychotherapy, or “talk” therapy, also can relieve depression. Ongoing research is investigating whether these treatments also reduce the associated risk of a second heart attack. Preventive interventions based on cognitive-behavior theories of depression also merit attention as approaches for avoiding adverse outcomes associated with both disorders. These interventions may help promote adherence and behavior change that may increase the impact of available pharmacological and behavioral approaches to both diseases.

While there are many different treatments for depression, they must be carefully chosen by a trained professional based on the circumstances of the person and family. Recovery from depression takes time. Medications for depression can take several weeks to work and may need to be combined with ongoing psychotherapy. Not everyone responds to treatment in the same way. Prescriptions and dosing may need to be adjusted. No matter how advanced the heart disease, however, the person does not have to suffer from depression. Treatment can be effective.

excerpted from: NIH Publication No. 02-5004

Depression and Heart Disease comes from the Depression Help blog where you will find the latest resources and news for long term recovery from depression.

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There are a lot of ways to overcome depression, including a change in lifestyle, medication, counseling and taking specific vitamins. A change in lifestyle includes keeping healthy by eating well, taking proper exercise and taking vitamins for depression. The latter may work for some people, but definitely not for everyone especially if done in isolation.

There are actually several vitamin deficiencies that may lead to depression. The following are thought to have some effect on mood, and can be taken care of immediately by taking supplements.

Vitamin B-complex is important to keep us emotionally and mentally balanced. And since they cannot be stored in our body, we simply depend on our daily food and vitamin intake to replenish them. Unfortunately, B vitamins can easily be destroyed by alcohol, refined sugars, caffeine, and nicotine. Therefore, it is not surprising to know that many of us may be deficient in B-complex vitamins.

Vitamin B1 or Thiamine is utilized by the brain to convert glucose or blood sugar into fuel so it functions properly. Insufficient supply of this vitamin can lead to fatigue, depression, irritability, anxiety, or worse, negative thoughts of suicide. Also, deficiencies can result in memory problems, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, and constipation. Consuming refined carbohydrates, like simple sugar eats away the supply of vitamin B1.

Vitamin B3 or Niacin deficiency can result in pellagra, which produces psychosis and dementia, and many other symptoms. At present, many commercial foods already contain niacin, keeping pellagra out of the picture. But, sub-clinical deficiencies in vitamin B3 may produce agitation and anxiety, and mental and physical slowness.

Vitamin B5 or Pyridoxine helps in the processing of amino acids, which are considered to be the building blocks of all proteins and other hormones. It is an essential element in manufacturing serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine. Although deficiencies in vitamin B6 are rare, it can result in impaired immunity, skin wounds, and mental confusion.

Vitamin B12 is essential to red blood cell formation. Therefore, deficiency in this will lead to an oxygen-transport problem, most commonly known as pernicious anemia. This condition can possibly cause mood swings, paranoia, dementia, hallucination, irritability, confusion, or mania and be eventually followed by loss of appetite, weakness, dizziness, shortage of breath, palpitation, and more.

Folic acid is needed for DNA synthesis and for the production of Sadenosyl Methionine. Usually this is taken together with vitamin B12.

Vitamin C is needed, especially if you are pregnant or lactating, or under a lot of stress.

Deficiencies in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and manganese can also lead to depression. So, make sure to take not only vitamins for depression, but also certain minerals.

As you can see, there are many vitamins for depression are available that you can use to avoid both deficiency and depression. You might want to start taking some to combat your condition but before you do, always seek medical advice.

Vitamins To Improve Depression comes from the Depression Help blog where you will find the latest resources and news for long term recovery from depression.

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Depression is something that way too many people fight daily and if there is a way to treat it without the use of unending antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood enhancers than that is a method many people are looking for. One method presented to them for this purpose has been acupuncture.

There are many non-believers in the scientific and medical fields who do not see how acupuncture can do anything to help those who suffer from depression, but studies are turning up with very different results. Studies have shown that since acupuncture in itself is a relaxing treatment it leads the way in alternative medicine helping to deal with depression. Studies have shown that after a routine of several weeks of acupuncture sessions to treat depression that 66% of those women treated felt better and functioned better after treatment. Follow up visits showed that they dealt better with their daily lives and the people in it.

Other studies conducted specifically on women suffering from major depressive episodes showed that 64% of them had relief from the symptoms that they had to deal at least as successfully as when they took medication or sought counseling. These were very encouraging results for patients who are tired of using medication and are looking for an alternative that is a little more natural to try to ease their symptoms and help improve their ability to lead a more normalized existence. Many have been surprised at what a good alternative acupuncture has turned out to be.

Depression is not just the day to day problem of a person suffering a chemical imbalance. It can also be a problem suffered by women who are pregnant. Firstly because many women who suffer from depression do have children, but as well being pregnant with the rampant hormonal changes can cause a bout of depression for someone who normally does not suffer from this serious condition.

Studies conducted on pregnant women showed almost the same results as the others, with 69% of them responding to the treatment successfully. This was after only twelve sessions. One of the reasons the improvements were so noticeable was that the women did not have a return of symptoms by as late as ten weeks after delivery. This means that women who suffer from depression during pregnancy have an alternative that was not open to them before. They can be treated with acupuncture and feel better and they can do this without fearing that what they do to improve their health will have any adverse effects on the health of their unborn child.

Acupuncture And Depression comes from the Depression Help blog where you will find the latest resources and news for long term recovery from depression.

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People whose needs and expectations in a relationship are continuously unfulfilled are at risk of developing relationship depression. The breeding ground for depression in a relationship is the fear of revealing ones true self to the other. One may have been on his or her best behavior at the start of the relationship, and the apprehension of not being accepted by the other with their true self, becomes a relationship with a stressful lie, thus causing relationship depression.

A person suffering from this type of depression should seek professional advice. Otherwise this may become the root for more complicated relationship issues. Professional advice can help the person overcome and resolve important issues about the relationship and thus avoid depression. For those people who have depressed partners, advice on depression will make them aware of how to best help their partners and cope with the situation as well. Here are some tips:

Learn for Yourself. Educating ones self on what you need to know about depression and what causes it, as well as symptoms and treatments, will greatly lend a hand on coping with depression in relationships.

Distinguish the facts from the myths. Put yourself in your partner’s shoes and know what it feels like to be depressed. Mistaken beliefs about mental illness should be eliminated so you need the facts on what depression really is.

Take care of yourself as well. Take note that depressive feelings can be contagious, so continually be on the look out for yourself and take the time to step back and re-energize yourself.

Get help. The feelings of being upset, aggravated, and mad are valid emotions to a very wearisome situation, so get help and join support groups, or talk with close friends, or even see a counselor. The essential thing is to vent out the bad feelings rather than letting them build up within.

Other advice on depression in relationship is to be there for them, don’t take it personally, offer hope, love them unconditionally, and it is very important that treatment is sought. Remember that professional advice is still the best way to handle the situation. Bottom line, be supportive and accept the person for who he or she really is.

Depression And Relationships comes from the Depression Help blog where you will find the latest resources and news for long term recovery from depression.

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Even more disturbing is that anti-depressants are commonplace in today’s society. However, there are ways to treat depression without drug intervention. In a society where drugs seem to be the answer for everything, I believe it is imperative to find another way. Drugs are not the only answer to our problems. Moreover, they come with their own problems, which eventually show up elsewhere in the body.

Reflexology is one answer to this common problem. Not only is this form of self-help therapy relaxing and provides immediate relief in many cases, moreover it is free of charge and extremely convenient.

Reflexology, is simply the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs. Just like the teeth, the feet and hands are a map to the health of our entire body. By stimulating nerves in specific areas we can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding areas of the body. Furthermore, reflexology stimulates the lymphatic system and encourages the release of endorphins, the natural feel good hormones that are well documented in relieving the effects of stress.

Reflexology is fairly simple to perform and even simpler to incorporate into your daily routine. This can be very important for people that suffer from long-lasting depression or frequent spouts of depression.

There are many online guides and diagrams that you can use. Or, if you prefer to have the information at your fingertips, there are many great books you can even get at your local library that will walk you through the process of reflexology treatment. If you are really serious about learning the techniques, there are numerous online reflexology schools where you can take classes and learn in-depth techniques for more specific sicknesses and diseases.

If you would like to read some of the success stories that have resulted from numerous studies, there is a report on reflexology research published at http://www.reflexology-research.com. This report demonstrates how reflexology treatment was able to alleviate the effects of severe stress in most cases.

In one such study, 20 patients were given reflexology treatments for a week. The treatments focused on areas of the feet relating to the adrenal glands, kidneys, bladder, sinus, brain and heart. These are common organs that get compromised by the effects of stress. The results were surprising. Forty percent experienced a complete cure, thirty five percent were greatly improved, fifteen percent mildly improved, and ten percent reported no change at all.

The bottom line is that reflexology has proved to be a therapy that is beneficial for everyone. It is the perfect complimentary medicine whether or not you must take prescription drugs. Once you try it you will understand why reflexology has found a permanent place in the health industry.

Depression And Reflexology comes from the Depression Help blog where you will find the latest resources and news for long term recovery from depression.

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Depression may make it harder to take the medications needed and to carry out the treatment for heart disease. Depression also may result in chronically elevated levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, and the activation of the sympathetic nervous system (part of the “fight or flight” response), which can have deleterious effects on the heart.

The first studies of heart disease and depression found that people with heart disease were more likely to suffer from depression than otherwise healthy people. While about 1 in 20 American adults experience major depression in a given year, the number goes to about one in three for people who have survived a heart attack. Furthermore, other researchers have found that most heart patients with depression do not receive appropriate treatment. Cardiologists and primary care physicians tend to miss the diagnosis of depression; and even when they do recognize it, they often do not treat it adequately.7

The public health impact of depression and heart disease, both separately and together, is enormous. Depression is the estimated leading cause of disability worldwide, and heart disease is by far the leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately one in three Americans will die of some form of heart disease.

Studies indicate that depression can appear after heart disease and/or heart disease surgery. In one investigation, nearly half of the patients studied one week after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery experienced serious cognitive problems, which may contribute to clinical depression in some individuals.

There are also multiple studies indicating that heart disease can follow depression. Psychological distress may cause rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and faster blood clotting. It can also lead to elevated insulin and cholesterol levels. These risk factors, with obesity, form a constellation of symptoms and often serve as a predictor of and a response to heart disease. People with depression may feel slowed down and still have high levels of stress hormones. This can increase the work of the heart. As high levels of stress hormones are signaling a “fight or flight” reaction, the body’s metabolism is diverted away from the type of tissue repair needed in heart disease.

Regardless of cause, the combination of depression and heart disease is associated with increased sickness and death, making effective treatment of depression imperative. Pharmacological and cognitive-behavioral therapy treatments for depression are relatively well developed and play an important role in reducing the adverse impact of depression. With the advent of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to treat depression, more medically ill patients can be treated without the complicating cardiovascular side effects of the previous drugs available. Ongoing research is investigating whether these treatments also reduce the associated risk of a second heart attack. Furthermore, preventive interventions based on cognitive-behavior theories of depression also merit attention as approaches for avoiding adverse outcomes associated with both disorders. These interventions may help promote adherence and behavior change that may increase the impact of available pharmacological and behavioral approaches to both diseases.

Exercise and Depression

Exercise is another potential pathway to reducing both depression and risk of heart disease. A recent study found that participation in an exercise training program was comparable to treatment with an antidepressant medication (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) for improving depressive symptoms in older adults diagnosed with major depression. Exercise, of course, is a major protective factor against heart disease as well.

The NIMH and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute are invested in uncovering the complicated relationship between depression and heart disease. They support research on the basic mechanisms and processes linking co-occurring mental and medical disorders to identify potent, modifiable risk factors and protective processes amenable to medical and behavioral interventions that will reduce the adverse outcomes associated with both types of disorders.

Information taken from NIH Publication No. 01-4592

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Stroke can occur in all age groups and can happen even to fetuses still in the womb; but three-fourths of strokes occur in people 65 years of age and over, making stroke a leading cause of disability in older persons. Of the 600,000 American men and women who experience a first or recurrent stroke each year, an estimated 10 to 27 percent experience major depression. An additional 15 to 40 percent experience some symptoms of depression within 2 months following a stroke.

The average duration of major depression in people who have suffered a stroke is just under a year. Among the factors that affect the likelihood and severity of depression following a stroke are the location of the brain lesion, previous or family history of depression, and pre-stroke social functioning. Stroke survivors who are also depressed, particularly those with major depressive disorder, may be less compliant with rehabilitation, more irritable, and may experience personality change.

Despite the enormous advances in brain research in the past 20 years, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Stroke survivors, their family members and friends, and even their physicians may misinterpret depressive symptoms as an inevitable reaction to the effects of a stroke. But depression is a separate illness that can and should be treated, even when a person is undergoing post-stroke rehabilitation. Although depressive symptoms may overlap with post-stroke symptoms, skilled health professionals will recognize the symptoms of depression and inquire about their duration and severity, diagnose the disorder, and suggest appropriate treatment.

Stroke Facts

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding brain cells. Symptoms of stroke appear suddenly and often there is more than one symptom at the same time:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble talking, or understanding speech
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

The most important risk factors for stroke are hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and cigarette smoking. Others include heavy alcohol consumption, high blood cholesterol levels, illicit drug use, and genetic or congenital conditions, particularly vascular abnormalities.

Gender also plays a role in risk for stroke. Men have a higher risk for stroke, but since men do not live as long as women, women are generally older when they have strokes and are more likely to die from them. However, women’s hormonal changes during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause increase their risk for stroke. The risk of stroke associated with pregnancy is greatest in the postpartum period—the 6 weeks following childbirth. Risk for stroke also varies among different ethnic and racial groups.

Although stroke is a disease of the brain, it can affect the entire body. Some of the disabilities that can result from a stroke include paralysis, cognitive deficits, speech problems, emotional difficulties, fatigue, and daily living problems. Many people require psychological or psychiatric help after a stroke. Depression, anxiety, frustration and anger are common post-stroke disabilities. Because stroke survivors often have complex rehabilitation needs, progress and recovery are unique for each person. Although a majority of functional abilities may be restored soon after a stroke, recovery is an ongoing process.

Treating Depression

Depression can affect mind, mood, body, and behavior. While there are many different treatments for depression, they must be carefully chosen by a trained professional based on the circumstances of the person and family. Prescription antidepressant medications are generally well-tolerated and safe for people recovering from a stroke. There are, however, possible interactions among some medications and side effects that require careful monitoring. Therefore, stroke survivors who develop depression, as well as people in treatment for depression who subsequently suffer a stroke, should make sure to tell any physician they visit about the full range of medications they are taking.

Specific types of psychotherapy, or “talk” therapy, also can relieve depression. Sometimes it is beneficial for family members of a stroke survivor to seek counseling as well.

(This is taken from NIH Publication No. 02-5006)

See articles in the cures for depression section for more information on treatments.

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The true prevalence of depression among people with Parkinson’s disease is difficult to determine because there are no standardized assessment tools designed to evaluate depressive symptoms in the context of this illness. However, it is estimated to be quite common—as many as half of people with Parkinson’s may suffer from depression.2

Despite the enormous advances in brain research in the past 20 years, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated. People with Parkinson’s, their families and friends, and even their physicians may misinterpret depression’s warning signs, mistaking them for inevitable accompaniments to Parkinson’s disease. In addition, men, who are more likely to develop Parkinson’s, are more likely than women to have difficulty acknowledging depression.

Symptoms of depression may overlap with those of Parkinson’s and other physical illnesses. However, skilled health professionals will recognize the symptoms of depression and inquire about their duration and severity, diagnose the disorder, and suggest appropriate treatment.

Depression Facts

Depression is a serious medical condition that affects thoughts, feelings, and the ability to function in everyday life. Depression can occur at any age. NIMH-sponsored studies estimate that almost 10 percent of American adults, or about 19 million people age 18 and older, experience some form of depression every year.3 Although available therapies alleviate symptoms in over 80 percent of those treated, less than half of people with depression get the help they need.

Depression results from abnormal functioning of the brain. The causes of depression are currently a matter of intense research. An interaction between genetic predisposition and life history appear to determine a person’s level of risk. Episodes of depression may then be triggered by stress, difficult life events, side effects of medications, or other environmental factors. Whatever its origins, depression can limit the energy needed to keep focused on treatment for other disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.

People with depression who have Parkinson’s disease have a different symptom profile than those without Parkinson’s.2 The Parkinson’s profile includes higher rates of anxiety, sadness without guilt or self-blame, and lower suicide rates despite high rates of suicidal thoughts. Hormonal imbalances such as hypogonadism and hypothyroidism, which can cause depressive symptoms, need to be looked at carefully in these individuals. More research is needed to understand the relationship between Parkinson’s disease and depression, dementia, anxiety disorders, and psychosis.

Parkinson’s Disease Facts

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive disorder of the brain primarily affecting the motor system, but also affecting thinking and emotion. It results from the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger that controls movement. The four primary symptoms of Parkinson’s are tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination. Individuals may also have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. Early symptoms are subtle and occur gradually. At present, there is no way to predict or prevent Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease affects both men and women. The disease is considerably more common in the over-50 age group. With the increased life expectancy in this country and worldwide, an increasing number of people will develop Parkinson’s disease.

A variety of medications provide dramatic relief from the symptoms. However, no drug yet can stop the progression of the disease, and in many cases medications lose their benefit over time. In such cases, surgery may be considered. Some doctors recommend physical therapy or muscle-strengthening exercises. Some new drugs have recently been approved offering a wider choice of medications for individuals with Parkinson’s, while others are under investigation in this country and overseas in an effort to obtain better therapeutic results with fewer side effects. Ongoing research is aimed at discovering the cause of Parkinson’s disease, finding better treatments, and ultimately preventing and curing the disorder.

Get Treatment for Depression

Treating depression can help people feel better and cope better with their Parkinson’s treatment. While prescription antidepressant medications are generally well-tolerated and safe for people with Parkinson’s, more research is needed to determine which antidepressants work best for people with different subtypes of Parkinson’s.2 Specific types of psychotherapy, or “talk” therapy, also can relieve depression. Studies have demonstrated the improvement of Parkinsonian symptoms in patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy.5 Although there are many different treatments for depression, they must be carefully chosen by a trained professional based on the circumstances of the person and family.

Treatment for depression in the context of Parkinson’s disease should be managed by a mental health professional—for example, a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker—who is in close communication with the physician providing the Parkinson’s disease treatment. This is especially important when antidepressant medication is needed or prescribed, so that potentially harmful drug interactions can be avoided. In some cases, a mental health professional that specializes in treating individuals with depression and co-occurring physical illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease may be available. People with Parkinson’s who develop depression, as well as people in treatment for depression who subsequently develop Parkinson’s disease, should make sure to tell any physician they visit about the full range of medications they are taking.

Use of herbal supplements, such as Amoryn or 5HTP, of any kind should be discussed with a physician before they are tried. Recently, scientists have discovered that St. John’s wort, an herbal remedy sold over-the-counter and promoted as a treatment for mild depression, can have harmful interactions with some other medications.

Recovery from depression takes time. Medications for depression can take several weeks to work and may need to be combined with ongoing psychotherapy. Not everyone responds to treatment in the same way. Prescriptions and dosing may need to be adjusted. No matter how advanced the Parkinson’s disease, however, the person does not have to suffer from depression. Treatment can be effective.

Other mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) and anxiety disorders, may occur in people with Parkinson’s, and they too can be effectively treated. However, some Parkinson’s medications may worsen mania in persons with co-occurring bipolar disorder.5 The prevalence of bipolar disorder among individuals with Parkinson’s is unknown, but people in treatment for Parkinson’s should be alert for symptoms of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by intense mood swings and changes in behavior.

Remember, depression is a treatable disorder of the brain. Depression can be treated in addition to whatever other illnesses a person might have, including Parkinson’s. If you think you may be depressed or know someone who is, don’t lose hope. Seek help for depression.

(Original info from NIH Publication No. 02-5007)

Depression and Parkinson’s Disease comes from the Depression Help blog where you will find the latest resources and news for long term recovery from depression.

This debilitating condition, also known as the “winter blues” or “winter depression” is activated by the response of the brain to reduced exposure to natural sunlight. It’s really hard to understand what triggers this condition but it is commonly associated with the brain’s function to release specific hormones. When days are shorter and it’s dark, two of the major hormones in the brain, melatonin and serotonin, which control a person’s sleep patterns, energy level and disposition, are greatly affected. Once this occurs a person’s mood changes during the year and he responds differently to certain situations.

The hormone melatonin is related to sleep and when the brain produces a greater amount of melatonin than usual, a person feels tired and weary. Serotonin on the other hand is linked directly to depression. When the quantity of serotonin released by the brain decreases, a person may experience a feeling of deep dissatisfaction, intense sadness, and lack of interest over certain things he normally does.

A person suffering from SAD disorder may have trouble waking up in the morning and may experience unexplained restlessness so that he can’t concentrate on work. Other symptoms of SAD include morning sickness or nausea and changes in appetite. A person with SAD often gains more weight as he tends to crave too much food especially that high in carbohydrates and sugar. The symptoms of SAD can be very upsetting as they slow down one’s day-to-day activities but there are various ways to reduce them or eliminate them altogether. The most popular relief for seasonal affective disorder is bright light therapy which uses a SAD lightbox.

Many doctors suggest the use of SAD light therapy as a treatment for the disorder. In this approach, the person is exposed to an artificial light produced by the SAD lamp. The treatment usually takes thirty minutes or an hour and can be done in the morning or afternoon. It is one of the most effective treatments for SAD when it is impossible to get natural sunlight during winter. However, it can be really expensive.

There other cheaper medications available to treat SAD but they should only be purchased every now and then. Using a SAD lightbox can be more cost-effective in the long term. Aside from that, this therapy also improves eyesight and cures skin irritations.

The amount of light emitted by a SAD lightbox and its efficiency to boost energy depends on its lux rating or light intensity. There are different kinds of SAD lightboxes on the market that can be used in various settings including desk lamp lightboxes, table top lightboxes, and portable lightboxes.

Desk lamp lightboxes can be adjusted and are also used when reading or doing certain tasks. Table top lightboxes are also adjustable and convenient. Portable lightboxes are more compact and can be easily kept in a purse or a travel case.

While each type of SAD lightbox is convenient to use, it’s still wise to choose the one with a higher lux rating to achieve faster and better results.

SAD Lightbox Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder comes from the Depression Help blog where you will find the latest resources and news for long term recovery from depression.

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