English - InnoLux BRIGHT Manuel De L'utilisateur

English

WHAT IS BRIGHT LIGHT THERAPY?
Congratulations for purchasing INNOLUX bright light therapy lamp. Before using the lamp, it is good
to know what effects bright light has on your body and how to use bright light therapy effectively.
Many people suffer from lethargy and depression during the dark winter season. This condition is
known as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Scientific research has shown that as the amount of
natural light decreases, the body may physiologically respond to these "unfavourable living condi-
tions" by adjusting certain hormone levels and biological activities. SUB SAD or the Winter Blues is a
milder form of SAD affecting a considerably larger number of people.
The effects of these adjustments may include:
• Intense fatigue, exhaustion and various sleep disorders
• Increased appetite leading to weight gain
• General passivity and depression
• Decreased work efficiency and loss of vitality
On a sunny day the strength of light is approximately 50 000 – 100 000 lux, whereas indoors it is as
little as 100-200 lux. An effective bright light therapy session requires the eyes to be exposed to at
least 2 500 lux. Via the retina and the optic nerves the light affects the brain's light sensitive region
(suprachiasmatic cellkernel), which adjusts the body's physiological cycles in accordance with the
rhythm of day and night. The light reduces the amount of the sleep hormone melatonin, secreted by
the pineal gland. Melatonin is a key factor in the regulation of alertness and sleep cycles, but also
in the prevention of SAD. Bright light therapy helps you alleviate these problems and regain vitality.
The bright light device is designed to treat a person who suffers from lethargy and depression. This
condition is known as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) or milder form of SAD called SUB SAD. If the
symptoms are severe, they should be treated under medical supervision.
THERAPY INSTRUCTIONS
Start bright light therapy before any symptoms of SAD appear, preferably soon after nights start
drawing in. Take a bright light session 3-5 times a week throughout the winter. If the symptoms are
not relieved or they reappear, try taking daily sessions for 1-2 weeks. You may even begin with daily
sessions or repeat this intensity whenever you feel you need it.
One session lasts for 0,5-2 hours. Longer than two hours does not intensify the effect but there's
no harm of longer sessions. It is advisable to take the session between 6.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. but
it is most effective in the morning between 6 and 8. A session in the evening may disturb sleep. If
you tend to have evening sleepiness (common to elderly people), you might want to try taking the
sessions earlier in the evening in order to stay up longer. You can also divide the session into several
shorter periods during the same day if it suits your schedule better.
There is no need to look straight into the light source, but you should keep it within your visual field
during the whole session. You can read, write or do other things in the meantime. The effectiveness
of bright light therapy correlates withthe distance between your face and the light source. Make
sure that your face is not further from the lamp than the announced therapy distance on the model
instructions. You can shorten the required session time by sitting closer to the lamp.
Bright light therapy also helps speed recovery from jet-lag. A session in the evening will delay your
sleep cycle, a session in the morning will have an opposite effect.
IMPORTANT NOTES ON BRIGHT LIGHT THERAPY
The lamp comes with an electronic ballast which raises the light frequency up to 30 000 Hz, where
flicker is not noticeable to the eye. After the first few sessions, mild headache or eye strain may occur.
This is quite normal and such side effects usually disappear in a few days. If this does not happen,
stop the therapy and consult your doctor before continuing. Not all people suffer from SAD due to
lack of daylight. Exhaustion, sleep disorders and depression may have other causes. Bright light ther-
apy is most effective when combined with regular physical exercise and a healthy diet.
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