If the shorter daylight hours have left you feeling blue, ask your doctor about seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The October 2006 eNews Alert described for Members the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for SAD, and a link to an article reprint is provided for you below in case you missed it. The good news is that you have survived the shortest day of the year (December 22nd) and the symptoms of SAD are often gone by the end of March.When the days are shorter, people are at increased risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. Talk to your doctor about taking 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D per day, particularly if you live in the northern latitudes. This supplementation also helps to lift depressed feelings that tend to occur during the winter months. Another option might be to visit a tanning salon two or three times a week to make up for the loss of sun exposure and the ultraviolet (UV) rays that help your skin make vitamin D. In the October 2007 Journal, research showed that exposure to UV produces a relaxing effect on people, and there is some evidence to indicate that it reduces FM pain. However, be careful not to overdo it and follow the safety precautions mentioned in the last Journal.
Click here to download the SAD article - PDF*
 
*To open the PDF file, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this software, you can download it for free at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

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