Seasonal Sleep Disorders

We find it interesting that our most read blogs are the "How To" blogs, and we guess it is because most people do not spend a lot of time looking at how to buy beds or pillows or bedding.  And those are important skills.  We do, however, like to throw a little science occasionally, and this is one of those times.  Today we would like to talk about Seasonal Sleep Disorders.

This is a good time of year to discuss it, at least north of the tropics.  As winter is starting to wane.  Besides the cold that comes with winter, we also experience less daylight.  Because of the Earth's position on its axis toward the sun, our days are shorter now than in the summer months.  After the autumnal solstice, the days continue to get shorter all the way until December 21st the winter solstice.  With the shortening days our bodies experience a physical loss of the effects of the Sun.  Some people are affected much worse than others, and regions are affected differently, primarily depending on how far north of the tropics they are.  For instance, in the U.S. Alaska would be one of the highest affected regions, because of their northern exposure.  Even areas like Chicago and Detroit or the upper east coast states like Maine can experience this problem.  On the opposite end of the spectrum States like Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, and California (the southern part) are less affected.

Seasonal Sleep Disorder is usually described as a depression, some call it the winter blues.  Most people can tolerate it, but is is characterized by sleepiness, over sleeping, and general bad mood.  It can cause the victim to crave carbohydrates (finally an explanation of why we like Christmas cookies!), and weight gain can result.  Many find themselves trying to get ready for beach season, by an extra trip to the gym or even diet.  Part of this is normal.  Early man could not gather as many crops in the winter, so his diet probably changed to include more meat.  Over the eons that moved to our genes as a preservation reaction to winter.  Also during the cold, it was safer to stay closer to the fire and family to get enough warmth.  Keep in mind there were not even electric light bulbs way back then, so the most fun you could have was to sleep.  The good news is that Spring is coming, soon.



World Headquarters of Hannah's

So sleep plays a role.  And in the winter months it is still important to follow good sleep hygiene.  Keep a regular sleep wake schedule  The more consistent that schedule is, the better your body will fight the winter blues.  In some extreme cases doctors might use a sun replicating light or watch melatonin levels in their patients.  For years, we have followed a sleep wake regimen, and for us it has worked well to beat away the winter time blues.  And it does no harm to try!

Don't worry, dear reader, we will get back to the "how to" series shortly... until then...

Sleep Well!