Importance of Light Therapy
Light therapy is an exposure of light that is brighter or stronger than indoor light but not as intense as direct sunlight. It entails being exposed to certain levels of light under carefully controlled settings. It's a popular treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Depression, fatigue, and sleep difficulties may all benefit from light therapy.
With the growing age, Certain conditions make it especially challenging. People need more care and attention as they grow older. Specialized care services help these people with daily tasks such as bathing, grooming, medication, so.
Light therapy can be used to treat various disorders and maintain other bodily functions.
What is the purpose of light therapy?
Light therapy is used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which comes as the "winter blues" when the days get shorter in the autumn and winter. When persons with SAD use light therapy, they usually feel better. It could be due to the fact that light therapy compensates for the lack of sunlight exposure by resetting the body's biological clock.
Light therapy can be an effective alternative for medication for those with seasonal and non-seasonal depression, psychotic depression, and anxiety during pregnancy. According to research, light therapy can help with insomnia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and dementia. Furthermore, it aids patients with Parkinson's disease to improve their motor function.
Light therapy can cure symptoms of SAD (such as depression) in as little as 2 to 4 days, but it can take up to 3 weeks before symptoms of SAD (such as depression) are better.
Improved mood and mental health:
The most prevalent application of phototherapy lights is depression treatment. One of the SIGNIFICANT factors in mood disorder DEVELOPMENT like seasonal affective disorder is the reduced serotonin level. Serotonin affects the entirety of our brain's 40 million cells, including our emotions. Our moods become controllable, and we're less likely to develop related mental conditions when our serotonin levels are higher. Light box therapy increases serotonin levels, allowing us to control our moods better.
Improved Sleep regulation:
Melatonin synthesis is another reaction to sunshine. Melatonin is a hormone that helps to regulate our circadian rhythm or sleep pattern. Having Insufficient melatonin levels have been linked to a variety of sleep problems. We may replicate the rising sun by sitting before a seasonal affective disorder lamp in the morning, allowing our bodies to release excess melatonin.
Light is extremely sensitive to the human sleep-wake cycle, making it crucial for good sleep. Bright light therapy for sleep problems used at the right time of day can help align one's sleep pattern with the desired sleep pattern, according to the study.
DEMENTIA
The circadian rhythm is one of the most important aspects of dementia. Dementia patients frequently have a disrupted sleep-wake pattern. Light treatment for dementia has been found in studies to improve sleep efficiency while also regulating rest and activity. More exploration, however, is required.
While additional research is needed, phototherapy has proved to be effective in the treatment of mental illness. For depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, bright light treatment can help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
Increase focus and Efficiency:
Increased energy is another of serotonin's many impacts. Our productivity and capacity to focus also increase when we have extra energy and vitality. We feel better when our serotonin levels are higher. Another productivity booster is being in a contented frame of mind. When we're joyful, our bodies release more serotonin, resulting in improved health and wellbeing. Are you experiencing a productivity slump? Get it from the advantages of therapeutic light.
Reduce anxiety:
Increased melatonin production is another consequence of light therapy on our bodies. Melatonin is well-known for regulating sleep PATTERNS, but it has also been shown to lower anxiety.
Light treatment for anxiety has proven to be beneficial in multiple studies. This treatment has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms in 58 people with epilepsy-related anxiety in one trial. Another study from 2013 indicated that those who received phototherapy treatment had better results than those who received a mimic treatment.
The bottom line:
When you use light therapy early in the morning when you awaken, it may be the most
beneficial. Before starting light therapy, see your doctor, especially if your eyes or skin are sensitive to light.
While light therapy may not work for all, many people find that it helps them cope with symptoms of seasonal depression, various forms of anxiety, and sleep problems.
Light therapy is a preferred choice for many people with mental health disorders because it has no major side effects.