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Effectiveness Of Bright Light Therapy

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:29:00 +0000

The effectiveness of Bright Light Therapy has been proven by more than 15 medical agencies doing research in patients, with significant improvement in about a week or thereabout. Bright Light Therapy has shown the medical fields that therapeutic levels of illumination have an effect on human physiologically.

In accordance to blood tests the hormone melatonin, known to be remarkably high at certain times of the day, are speedily reduced by levels of light introduction. This has demonstrated that Bright Light Therapy has on the daily rhythms of body temperature, sleep patterns, and hormone secretion. To summarize, it refers to a treatment employed for individuals who suffer from circadian rhythm sleep disorders, with a normal circadian indicating a cycle of approximately 24 hours which makes one feel sleepy or attentive at daily regular times. A circadian rhythm sleep disorder causes this natural sleep pattern to go beyond a person’s regular awake activities, whether it is school or work.

Where all of this comes about is because scientifically, the body’s clock that is found in the body’s brain is a junction where the nerves travel to the eyes known as the SCN. It is this clock that manages the “circadian rhythms” of the body, in turn controlling the rhythms of the body.

Bright Light Therapy helps the body’s rhythms by setting the internal clock through its exposure to bright light, akin to sunlight. The aim of combination therapy comprises a healthy sleep pattern and an internal clock that works at the right juncture. The rationale behind the Bright Light Therapy is to reset the body’s clock that is not working properly, but is considered only a portion of the treatment plan. The other portion of the treatment plan is to consult a doctor who knows what he or she is doing and specializes in sleep disorders. At this time, there are four essential groups of products for light therapy: The Light Box, The Desk Lamp, The Light Visor and The Dawn Simulator.

Other disorder that Bright Light Therapy is effective for is the depressive segment of bipolar. Women with bipolar disorder were observed by researchers at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Previously the women had used Bright Light Therapy treatments in the morning or at midday on a daily basis for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 45 minutes for a period of two weeks. Six of the women had considerable improvement, with several recovering 100% from the symptoms of the bipolar depression. The ones with the highest rates of success were in the midday light range, with a few responding very well to the early morning light phase.

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Should I bother with a sleep study when I have severe DSPS?

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 03:03:24 +0000

Okay so I’ve had dsps for about 15 years now and the older I get the worse it gets. Most people with it say they can’t fall asleep until 2-3am but for me It’s around 9am to 12pm, then I sleep like a log until around 10pm. Needless to say, It’s impossible to hold down a job or even have a social life. It’s driving me bonkers!! It’s an everyday thing and I workout everyday, don’t drink caffeine, I have fairly healthy eating habits, pills don’t work, NyQuil don’t work, nothing freaking works. I’ve tried everything except having a sleep study done. Should I even bother with one as I think they will most likely just suggest bright light therapy or something? If I can even fall asleep during the study that is, I’ve heard that you have to get ready for bed in the evening for these things, but that will be useless because I’ll just lay there until 7am or whenever they’re supposed to wake you up. I don’t have insurance either so before I dish out 00 do you really think it’s worth it with my situation? All responses are greatly appreciated and I will choose a best answer, even if there’s only one.

Thank you.
I’ve tried tons and tons of cannabis over the years and while it’s quite nice, It doesn’t help me sleep. :\ Neither does alcohol. I do tons of yard work for people every summer even though it’s sooo hard because of my condition and I’m in the sun for a long time, that hasn’t helped at all..ever, so I’m thinking bright light therapy will be useless.

Nonetheless I thank you for the response.

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Anyone have seasonal depression? Some questions… thanks!?

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:25:23 +0000

I have seasonal depression…. well it’s not diagnosed yet, but I am diagnosed (or w/e you wanna call it) w/clinical depression. However, as of a few weeks ago it suddenly got REALLY worse and nothing in my life has really changed. All summer long I was fine. I started seeing the therapist I am seeing now in January because I was at a real bad low. Then I got better as the summer came and so on. So yeah I’ve actually noticed it’s been like this for years in a row, so it must be seasonal. Anyway… I’m going back to the therapist in a few weeks, but until then, I was just wondering what you do to help get your mood up (assumin you have seasonal depression too and are reading this…) Do you do the bright light therapy (or w/e its called)? Does it work? Did the light machine thing cost alot? Any help would be great. I’d def going to the therapist sooner, but I’m away at school and can’t get home before my next appt.

Thanks everyone!
Oh btw, I’m on Wellbutrin already…

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Bright light therapy for SAD patients?

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:02:25 +0000

Has anyone heard about or been using the bright light therapy for SAD patients? Does it work well? Are there ANY health risks from this light at all? And also, if I went to the dr for it would insurance cover buying the light??? I am very tired all the time from about now till the end of winter (as I live in the northern regions and it’s WAY to cold to go outside, ever!) Plus I get lethargic and not as happy as I am in the summer. It always happens during this time, so thinking that light would work.

Any help would be much appreciated!!!

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Canada outranks U.S. in healthcare report card – Yahoo! News

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:27:23 +0000

Canada outranks U.S. in healthcare report card – Yahoo! News

TORONTO (Reuters) –
Canada outperforms the United States in health outcomes but is well behind global leaders like Japan in overall health of its population, a Canadian report released on Monday showed.

The annual report card by the Conference Board of Canada ranked Canada 10th out of 16 developed countries, with a "B" grade. The United States was the worst performer, placing 16th and earning a "D" grade.

"Canada has been at the center of much of the debate on U.S. health care reform. Since Canada ranks ahead of the United States on all but one indicator of health status … it is clear that we are getting better results," Gabriela Prada, director of health policy at the Conference Board, said in a statement.

"But when we look beyond the narrow Canada-U.S. comparison to the rest of the world, Canadians rank in the middle of the pack in terms of their health status," Prada said.

Most of the data on which the report card was based is from 2006, the group said.

President Barack Obama has pledged to reform the country's healthcare system, which is expensive and leaves millions of Americans without coverage. Canada, with its single-payer government-run system, is often held out as an example to be praised or derided by U.S. critics.

The Conference Board, which has been issuing the report card since 1996, ranked the 16 countries according to 11 criteria, including life expectancy, mortality due to cancer, circulatory diseases, respiratory diseases, metal disorders, as well as infant mortality and self-reported health status.

Japan was once again the top-ranking country. Switzerland, Italy, and Norway also earned "A" grades.

"B" grades were given to Sweden, France, Finland, Germany, Australia and Canada, while Netherlands, Austria and Ireland earned a "C" grade, the report showed.

Along with the United States, Denmark and the United Kingdom got "D" grades.

Canada and the United States both earned "A" grades on self-reported health status, ranking first and second, respectively, among the 16 countries.

Canada ranked higher than the United States on all of the mortality measures except for mortality due to cancer, a criteria for which both countries earned a "B" grade.

The Conference Board said top-performing countries achieved better health outcomes on broad actions such as environmental stewardship and health promotion programs that focus on changes in lifestyle, along with education, early childhood development, and income to improve health outcomes.

Rank Country Grade

1 Japan A

2 Switzerland A

3 Italy A

4 Norway A

5 Sweden B

6 France B

7 Finland B

8 Germany B

9 Australia B

10 Canada B

11 Netherlands C

12 Austria C

13 Ireland C

14 United Kingdom D

15 Denmark D

16 United States D

Source: The Conference Board of Canada

(Reporting by Andrea Hopkins; editing by Peter Galloway)

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