Effects of Daylight and Daylight Therapy

Light and sunlight are vital to life and nature. Furthermore, people’s health, mental health and overall wellness are directly affected by exposure to light. We spend long hours every day working in offices, shops and factories or relaxing at home watching TV, surfing the net or browsing social networks. Consequently, our exposure to daylight can be minimal. This is especially acute, when the days are short during autumn and winter months. We get up from bed in the morning in darkness and we leave work in darkness. Additionally, bad weather often prevents us from spending time outdoors.     

Low exposure to daylight during long and dark winter months can cause disturbances in our body clocks, sometimes leading to the development of light deficiency symptoms or unpleasant health conditions that can have very negative effects on the quality of life.  

Sunlight indirectly controls endogenous production of hormone melatonin, which tells the body when it is time to sleep. Melatonin is produced and released into the blood only in darkness. During winter months, it is much harder to wake up and get up early in the morning, because of longer duration of the nightly darkness. 

Additionally, light deficiency caused by reduced exposure to light during winter months also impairs the production of serotonin. Serotonin is often referred to as the happiness hormone, because it affects our wellbeing, stamina, mood and emotions.

Light deficiency also has negative effect of on energy and activity levels, leaving us feeling low, slow and sluggish.    

The simplest and most effective way of combating problems caused by light deficiency is to spend more time outdoors during daylight hours. Even with sky overcast, the outdoor light intensity is at least 2500 lux*. However, spending enough time outdoors is often difficult or even practically impossible. 

* Lux is a measurement unit of light illumination intensity). One lux of light is equal to the light generated by one candle. A well-lit office has light intensity of circa only 500 lux. On an overcast day, the outdoor light intensity is circa 2500 lux.           

Seasonal Affective Disorder - SAD - is a recognised medical condition. SAD is commonly called the Winter Blues. It is estimated that close to 2 million people in the UK are affected by the SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder has many symptoms, widely ranging from a feeling of general depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety, irritability, lethargy and exhaustion to loss of libido and problems with social interactions.

Diagnosing SAD can be difficult because the symptoms can resemble or overlap with other health conditions. Once correctly diagnosed by medical professionals, the SAD can be successfully treated by Daylight Therapy lights and lamps. Please note that the Daylight lights and lamps are also referred to as Brightlights.

When human body is irradiated by Daylight Lamp from circa 10 – 15 cm distance, the light emitted simulates natural daylight of over 10000 lux. The light from Daylight Lamp is a suitable replacement for a natural daylight and can treat and prevent light deficiency.  

Daylight Therapy Lamps

Daylight Therapy prevents seasonal light deficiency and keeps you active and happy during dark winter months.      

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