- What is bright light therapy?
- What is bright light therapy used for?
- How prevalent is the Winter Blues?
- How do I know if I could benefit from using a light therapy lamp?
- Have bright light therapy lamps been shown to work?
- How does bright light therapy work?
- How long does it take to experience the benefits of using bright light therapy?
- Could I get the same benefits by increasing the lighting in my home and office?
- What about spending more time outdoors? Would that work?
- Are there any side effects from using light therapy?
- What if I’m under a physician’s care? Can I use a therapy lamp?
- When is light therapy not recommended?
- Are therapy lamps medically approved?
- Are therapy lamps covered under my medical insurance?
- Why do research experts and medical doctors recommend Day-Light Light Therapy Lamps?
- What is the correct way to use Day-Lights for treatment?
- How many LUX for light therapy?
- Can Day-Lights be used in other ways?
- Do Day-Lights cause tanning?
- Are Day-Lights expensive to buy and maintain?
- What if the Day-Light doesn’t work for me?
1. What is bright light therapy?
Bright light therapy involves daily, scheduled exposure to intense doses of white light to:
- Regulate seasonal mood swings
- Improve sleeping patterns
- And produce a general sense of well-being.
According to medical researchers, bright light therapy lamps with LEDs are the preferred products for light treatment. The recommended starting dose is 10,000 LUX for 30 minutes daily. (LUX is the measurement of the illumination at a specific distance from a light source)
2. What is bright light therapy used for?
In the early 1980s, light therapy was first tested and developed to treat seasonal mood swings common among people in the fall and winter. These subjects were often quite hindered by severe mood changes and required medical treatment. During the spring and summer, however, their symptoms disappeared.
Researchers have explored the benefits of light therapy on people with the “Winter Blues” and reported a reasonable response rate. Other conditions for which bright light therapy looks promising include:
- Sleep phase difficulties
- Shift work
- Jet lag
- And those who have low energy.
3. How prevalent is the Winter Blues?
Reports suggest as many as 40 million North Americans may be affected by some level of the winter blues. Women are at least twice as likely to suffer as men.
4. How do I know if I could benefit from using a light therapy lamp?
You could benefit from a therapy lamp if you experience any combination of the following symptoms during winter.
- Feeling down
- Moodiness
- Loss of energy or fatigue
- Lethargy
- Difficulty getting up in the morning or excessive sleeping
- Loss of sex drive
- Social withdrawal
- Cravings for carbohydrates and weight gain
You may also benefit from using light if you are a shift worker or frequent flyer.
5. Have bright light therapy lamps been shown to work?
Yes. Since the first controlled light therapy study in 1984, researchers have published more than 60 controlled studies worldwide. Experts are confident that bright lights work for most people with the Winter Blues. (Response rates of 60% to 90% have been shown).
They have also shown promise as an option for those with circadian sleep difficulties, jet lag, and shift work adjustment.
6. How does bright light therapy work?
The exact mechanism by which bright light therapy works remains hypothetical. However, bright light therapy has been statistically proven effective in treating seasonal affective disorder.
Two main hypotheses exist:
- Bright light therapy resets the daily body clock (circadian rhythm), which tends to get out of balance during the winter.
- Bright light therapy helps increase serotonin (a neurotransmitter that positively affects moods) which would otherwise decrease in the fall and winter.
7. How long does it take to experience the benefits of light therapy?
Response to bright light therapy is usually swift. Most people will notice a marked improvement within one week. Users similarly experience a rapid recurrence of symptoms if they stop using their therapy lamp.
Longer trials have also shown increasing response to bright light therapy after two weeks. More incremental improvements have been reported after three or four weeks. You should continue using a therapy lamp for at least a month before quitting treatment.
8. Can I get the same benefits by increasing the lighting in my home and office?
If you are particularly light-sensitive, you may feel more uplifted with increased exposure to increased room lighting. However, studies show that much higher light intensities (at least 2,000 LUX) are required to produce the desired therapeutic effects. Using regular fixtures to get ambient lighting above 600 LUX is impossible.
Medical experts caution against making your own therapy lamp because of possible electrical hazards. It’s also challenging to determine the appropriate light intensity and ensure that ultraviolet (UV) light is filtered correctly.
9. What about spending more time outdoors? Would that work?
Yes, direct exposure to sunlight is always the best remedy for light deprivation. Daily 30-minute light exposure promotes improved energy, sleep, and wellness.
However, most find it challenging to get outside if they work indoors and have an office schedule. A 10,000 LUX SAD lamp is a convenient supplement for poor sun exposure.
10. Are there any side effects from using light therapy?
Light therapy is considered very safe, with few side effects when used correctly. Temporary side effects, such as slight nausea, tend to pass quickly as you get used to the high light intensity.
Most side effects, such as headache, eye strain, agitation, insomnia, or difficulty getting to sleep, are caused by too much light therapy. (In this case, it is possible to get “too much of a good thing.”) Such symptoms usually disappear when you decrease the “dosage” of light to your optimal level (usually in the 20-30 minute range).
11. What if I’m under a physician’s care? Can I use a therapy lamp?
That depends. If your symptoms are not seasonally triggered, it is unlikely that a therapy light alone will alleviate your symptoms. However, it may help uplift your mood.
For treating the Winter Blues, bright light therapy is recommended as the first-line “gold standard” treatment. Many people enjoy the remission of symptoms simply by using bright light therapy. Others may not respond at all, though they are in the minority. Since individual requirements vary widely, your doctor should supervise your treatment regime.
12. When is light therapy not recommended?
It’s essential to consult your doctor before using any form of light therapy if you meet any of the following criteria:
- You are on a prescribed medication
- You have eye problems (such as macular degeneration) or are sensitive to light
- You are allergic to light
- You have a diagnosed chronic skin disease
- You have bipolar disorder
13. Is light therapy medically approved?
Currently, therapy lamps are not approved as “medical devices” by government regulatory agencies in the US.
When choosing a lamp, following the guidelines of expert organizations is crucial. This ensures you select a lamp that meets their strict third-party requirements. The Center for Environmental Therapeutics is one of these organizations (www.cet.org)
14. Are therapy lamps covered under my medical insurance?
Many private insurance companies recognize the benefits of bright light therapy and its cost advantages. They often will cover the purchase of a therapy lamp with a prescription from your doctor. Before making the purchase, you should contact your insurance company to discuss coverage and determine their specific documentation requirements.
In North America, therapy lamps are not approved for reimbursement under government health insurance but are widely available over the counter.
15. Why do research experts recommend Day-Light Light Therapy Lamps?
Day-Light Bright Light Therapy Lamps are recommended by healthcare providers because:
- They meet the standards set by healthcare experts.
- And are frequently used in clinical studies.
Day-Light SAD lamps have been selected for use in several clinical studies since 1989. Dr. Ray Lam of the University of British Columbia says he selected Day-Lights because “they use the latest technology, are of excellent quality, durability, and aesthetics, and meet all recommended safety standards. The company also has a track record of dependability.”
16. What is the correct way to use Day-Lights for treament?
For bright light therapy sessions:
- Start treatment in the early fall and continue through the winter months.
- Use your Day-Light each morning after waking for 20-30 minutes.
- To receive 10,000 LUX, you need to sit approximately 11 to 15 inches from the light.
- During your sessions, you should NOT look directly into the light, but read, eat breakfast or check your e-mail.
17. How many LUX for light therapy?
Thirty minutes of morning 10,000 LUX light therapy is what experts have found to regulate serotonin and melatonin production effectively. Anything below this intensity requires longer treatments and a closer sitting distance.
You may need to adjust your treatment length, frequency, or time of day depending on how you react.
There are quite a few lights that emit 2,500 LUX. These lamps are effective but require two hours of daily treatment (at a closer sitting distance) which can be less convenient. Day-Light lamps provide 10,000 LUX from an 11-15″ sitting distance.
18. Can Day-Lights be used in other ways?
Yes, our lamps double for therapy and task lighting. Our models feature two intensity settings:
- 10,000 LUX
- 5,000 LUX
You can use them in the morning for light treatment and for ambient lighting the rest of the day.
When using it for task lighting, position your lamp at arm’s length or direct the light away from your face. Our lamps make excellent ambient, reading, and task lights.
19. Do Day-Lights cause tanning?
Day-Lights do not cause tanning. They have screens that filter out 99.3% of ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV is the spectrum of light that causes tanning. It’s vital to choose a lamp that filters out UV. Exposure to unfiltered light therapy can cause eye and skin damage.
20. Are Day-Lights expensive to buy and maintain?
Our core mission is to provide high-quality and medically sufficient light therapy lamps at an affordable price. Our lamps use upgraded LEDs, which are notably safer, more effective, and last longer than fluorescent bulbs.
Day-Lights conform to all technical design guidelines recommended by medical experts for bright light therapy:
- Meet all safety standards (CSA/UL approved and UV filtered).
- Emit the optimal “dosage” of light for daily bright light therapy sessions (10,000 LUX with a broad illumination field).
- They have been used in clinical studies since 1989 and are proven safe.
- Our lamps diffusing filters and high-efficiency ballasts eliminate glare and light flicker, ensuring comfortable sessions.
- Are warranted for five years during normal use.
21. What if the Day-Light doesn’t work for me?
Often a 1-4 week trial period is enough to determine if Day-Light light therapy will be effective for you. If you purchase through Carex.com, your purchase is covered under a 90-day return policy to give you ample time to decide. When returning your lamp, it must be in an unused (free of marks/damage) and sellable condition.