Sunshine (Reading Class)

Sunshine

Lack of sunlight during winter can cause depression.

Depression caused by lack of sunlight is called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. For most people afflicted with SAD, symptoms begin in the fall when it becomes dark earlier in the day, and they continue throughout the winter, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms

1. Symptoms of SAD include decreased energy (particularly in the afternoon), cravings for carbohydrates, depression, increased appetite, loss of interest in daily activities, social withdrawal and increased need for sleep.

Causes

2. SAD may be caused by an overproduction of melatonin, a hormone made during hours of darkness that can disrupt the body's sleep cycles, according to Dr. Gabrielle J. Melin of the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment

3. Patients who suffer from depression due to a lack of sunshine can be treated with light therapy. This involves sitting near a special box that exposes a patient to bright light that mimics the sun. Patients also may be prescribed antidepressant medication.

Risk Factors

4. Women are more likely than men to experience SAD, and those who live further from the equator, either in the extreme north or south, are at a higher risk, the Mayo Clinic reports.

Prognosis

5. Although the disorder may continue throughout the patient's life, the outlook is good with proper treatment. In some cases, however, SAD may progress to major depression that continues throughout the year.

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Source:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5622002_depression-due-lack-sunshine.html