Why Be SAD? Lewisham Health Department Can Help!

Lewisham church's ever-active health department continued its drive to promote healthy living and a better way of life for all with an afternoon health session on Sunday February 22nd, which included a special presentation.[video width="480" height="270" mp4="http://www.lewishamadventist.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/MVI_0295b.mp4"][/video]Services offered during the session included health checks (blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol), and consultation with a doctor. Additionally, there were BMI readings done (Body Mass Index) which involved checking height and weight and comparing them to an established range of target values. This aids in determining if a subject is over or under weight. The aunt of one young participant joked that his results suggested that perhaps he should skip dinner that night.The doctor present, our own Dr Pat Ellis, did a special presentation on the topic of Seasonal Affective Disorder, otherwise known as "SAD", followed by a question and answer session. She told us that its key symptoms are low mood and lack of interest in life, and these signs are usually more prevalent around the start of autumn and into winter, as well as being more common in women than men. It is said to affect two million people in the UK alone! Dr Ellis went on to say that the cause of this disorder is unknown, but it is linked to lack of vitamin D, which stimulates the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a small area of the brain responsible for mood control, and responds proportionately to the reception of sunlight. Treatments for the disorder include light therapy and antidepressants.[video width="480" height="270" mp4="http://www.lewishamadventist.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/MVI_0290c.mp4"][/video]During the question and answer session, one of the persons attending, Joseph Addison, suggested daylight bulbs from any shop as an artificial sunlight source to help with vitamin D replenishment. Doctor Ellis also suggested fish, cod liver oil, sweet potatoes and milk, as the calcium they contain helps the body absorb vitamin D. The presentation was deeply informative and interactive, giving everyone the opportunity to get clarification on points they were unclear about.The day was a success, as the health department was able to give both sound theory and practical help to the community and church members of all ages.[By Timothy Morris][envira-gallery id="670873"]