Beurer Brightlight Day Light Therapy Lamp TL 60

Warnings and contraindications

" If taking regular medication, such as pain killers, anti depressants or anti hypertensives, consult your doctor prior to use

" If you have a retinal disease or suffer diabetes, consult your ophthalmologist prior to use

" Do not use if you have eye diseases, such as cataracts, glaucoma, optic nerve diseases or inflammation of vitreous humour

" If you are in any health related doubts, always consult your doctor first

When using the lamp, you must maintain the recommended distance of 20 - 50 cm between your face and the lamp. During dark winter months you should use the daylight lamp for at least 7 successive days or longer, depending on your individual needs. Each session should last for 1 - 2 hours. The daylight lamp is more effective, if you perform your treatment in the mornings.

There is no need for you to look directly into the light for the whole duration of your treatment session. Only every so often you should briefly look directly into the light, because the therapeutic effects depend on the exposure of the retina in your eyes to the bright day light generated by the Brightlight lamp. It is possible for you to experience some eye ache or a light headache after the first use of the lamp. This is normal and only temporary and will cease as soon as your nervous system becomes accustom to the new type of stimulation.

Background to bright light therapy: 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.

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 sufficient 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 no more than 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 overlap with other health conditions. Once correctly diagnosed by medical professionals, the SAD can be successfully treated by Bright Light Therapy. Bright light therapy - regular exposure to special bright light of daylight lamp - can reverse the symptoms of the SAD without the need for medication.