(ARA) - Bringing more
natural light into our daily lives may be more
important for our health than we realize. Seasonal
Affective Disorder (SAD) is known to be related to
how much sunlight we receive. Individuals with SAD
may experience emotional depression, a drop in
physical energy, increased appetite, and increased
need for sleep.
According to WebMD Medical News, our mood is
influenced by a complex web of relationships among
sunlight, melatonin (the sleep hormone) and
serotonin (the hormone associated with wakefulness
and elevated mood). As darkness falls, our melatonin
levels naturally increase. And as the morning light
emerges, melatonin levels decrease.
Serotonin levels increase when we are exposed to
bright light -- a major reason why moods tend to be
more elevated during the summer. This hormone is the
basis of today's most popular and successful
antidepressant drugs, called selective serotonin
re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs work by
helping naturally produced serotonin stay in the
blood stream longer, keeping our mood and energy
levels higher.
It is known that bright-light therapy can bring
benefits to people with SAD because light affects
the melatonin-serotonin system and elevates mood. In
fact, some researchers are concluding that light
therapy may help to alleviate SAD symptoms faster
than antidepressant drugs. In a review of clinical
trials of light therapy, Dr. Daniel Kripke and his
colleagues at the University of California, San
Diego reported that light therapy benefits not only
SAD patients but also people suffering from other
forms of depression.
Joe Patrick, product manager for VELUX America,
points out that sunlight enters our homes through
windows, doors and skylights. “Skylights admit 30
percent more light than vertical windows in dormers,
and provide the drama of a sky view that can’t be
achieved with vertical windows,” Patrick says. “And
while increasing our exposure to healthful natural
light, skylights, which can also provide
ventilation, offer much more privacy without taking
up valuable wall space that can be used for
decorating or storage.”
Courtesy of ARA
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