Long live the light!

Mélissa Gélinas

November has arrived, which means that the days of sunshine are reduced to make way for darkness. This is typical in Nordic countries like Canada and the lack of light can affect people in different ways.

Indeed, it has been proven that the lack of light can cause problems with sleep, energy, mood and even depression. As for depression, better known as "seasonal depression", this affects between 1% and 10% of the population living in Nordic countries.

However, there is a simple and effective alternative called: light therapy. Light therapy is a treatment that consists of daily exposure to white light with an intensity greater than 2,000 lux that imitates that of the sun. According to some clinical studies, it would be recommended to use a light with a power of 10,000 lux, to gain as much as possible from its benefits. Moreover, lux is a unit of measurement of luminous illumination.

It is especially recommended to expose oneself to light in the morning for a period of at least 30 minutes. The face must also be well exposed.

In addition, it is advisable to start treatment during the fall season and to continue until the arrival of spring. The results are generally felt after a week of treatment and require an average of 4 weeks to be optimal.

Light, although it may seem harmless, plays a crucial role in regulating the human being's internal biological clock. In this sense, this energy source controls several body functions, such as wakefulness and sleep cycles, as well as the secretion of various hormones, such as the happiness hormone serotonin.

Several light therapy devices are available on the market. However, it is advisable to use LED lights since they do not emit any UV or infrared rays, which are known to be harmful to the skin and eyes.

Although they may be rare, some side effects such as headache, nausea and eye fatigue may be felt by some people. If in doubt or to obtain further information about the treatment, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional.