Seasonal Affective Disorder
For people with seasonal affective disorder, light is the answer
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), sometimes called the “winter blues” affects millions of people each year. Symptoms may include fatigue, oversleeping, food cravings, seasonal depression and irritability.
Listen to Bob Fairbanks of Fairview Sleep Centers tell you more about SAD. View the presentation. Play audio.
Causes of SAD
Modern technology could play a part in SAD. Before Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1879, most of people worked outside during the day and slept nine to 10 hours at night. Sunlight kept people awake during the day, and darkness helped them sleep at night. Today, however, most people work indoors, wear sunglasses when they go outside and get six to eight hours of sleep a night. For people who are prone to SAD, this absence of bright light during their waking hours can lead to fatigue and depression.
As it gets dark in the evening, a hormone called melatonin increases in our blood stream. This increase in melatonin leads to a decrease in body temperature and makes us feel tired. When exposed to bright light, our melatonin level decreases. This increases our body temperature and makes us more alert.
If you have trouble waking up in the morning, try watching the sunrise. The sunrise is 10,000 lux (a measurement of the brightness of light); indoor lighting is only 500 lux. When we stay indoors in the winter, our bodies think it’s night. That makes some people feel tired, irritable, sluggish and…sad.
Treatment options
Because most of us can’t all work outdoors (or watch the sunrise daily), successfully treating SAD may include:
- Light therapy (phototherapy) using indirect bright electric light for 30 minutes every morning during the fall and winter
- Certain medications
- Behavioral therapy
To consult with a primary care physician, contact a Fairview Clinic near you.
For a consultation on any sleep-related concerns, contact Fairview Sleep Centers.
Fairview Home Medical Equipment
Three convenient showrooms, local delivery available
Visit us at our showrooms in Burnsville, Minneapolis or St. Paul to see our selection of medical equipment and supplies. In Burnsville, we’re located on the Fairview Ridges Hospital Campus in the Ridges Pondview Medical Building, on the corner of Nicollet Blvd. and Portland Ave. In Minneapolis, we’re located on the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview – West Bank, on the corner of Seventh St. and 25th Ave., just one block off Riverside Avenue. In St. Paul, we’re on the southwest corner of University Avenue and Vandalia Street, just blocks from Interstate 94 and Highway 280.
Three retail locations to serve you:
Burnsville
Ridges Pondview Medical Building
501 E. Nicollet Blvd., LL60
Burnsville, MN 55337
952-460-4940
Hours: Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Minneapolis
2512 S. Seventh St.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
612-273-8877
Hours: Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
St. Paul
2200 University Ave., Suite 110
St. Paul, MN 55114
651-632-9800
Hours: Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Do I have a sleep disorder?
Fairview’s sleep specialists offer sleep consultations and studies at six locations in and around the Twin Cities area.
In the News
Read a feature story about our sleep services that recently appeared in the Brooklyn Park SunPost, Brooklyn Center SunPost, Maple Grove-Osseo Press and Bloomington SunCurrent
Dr. Howell discusses statistics and consequences of failing to get the proper amount of sleep with Fox9 News. Watch the clip.
Listen to the health sleep Medical Minute.
