Expert Health Tips
At Bryan, we have over 570 specialty and family practice doctors to care for any need you have. Plus, a staff of highly skilled nurses, therapists and other health experts. All work together as a team to help you enjoy the best of life. Take advantage of their expertise in areas that interest you with our blogs, podcasts, health emails and online screenings. And, if you need a doctor, we can help with that too!
Recent Posts From Our Health Experts
Beating the Winter Blues
I’ll admit, winter has never been my favorite season. I would gladly trade cold weather, less sunlight and getting sick more often for sunny days at the beach. The “winter blues” is a common term used to describe the increased sadness, lower energy and reduced interest in enjoyable activities many people feel during the winter months. For many people, these symptoms are minor and manageable with a few lifestyle changes, but for others, they become more intense and may develop into seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. Most often, symptoms are prominent in winter months but can follow other patterns as well. Symptoms of SAD include:
Depressed mood
Less interest in activities
Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
Being more fidgety and restless or more slowed down than usual
Fatigue
Reduced ability to think or concentrate
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation
One or several of these symptoms may occur for short periods of time. If you notice these symptoms becoming more persistent and affecting your relationships, work or school activities, you will want to actively take steps to manage them.
Ways to Manage Seasonal Affective Disorder
The cold weather and shorter days of winter are inevitable. The effects of seasonal affective disorder do not have to be. Take steps today to manage symptoms and allow yourself to thrive during all seasons of the year.
Get Moving
Physical exercise is one of the best ways to tackle depressive symptoms. It releases endorphins, improves physical health and can provide a sense of accomplishment.
Reach for Healthy Foods
Foods that are high in whole grains, protein and healthy fats provide energy and boost your mood. Sometimes this can be challenging. Some indulgence is okay (maybe even needed), but allowing large portions or high-sugar foods to become the basis of your diet will only worsen symptoms of SAD.
Stay Connected
When depression sets in, reaching out to friends and family can be daunting. Ironically, it is also one of the best ways to improve your symptoms. Having lunch with a friend, texting a family member or joining a book club are all ways to stay connected when sunlight and outdoor activities may be limited.
Try Bright Light Therapy (BLT)
BLT involves sitting in front of a light box for 30-60 minutes a day to mimic exposure to sunlight. Light boxes can be found for as little as $70 and do not require any special training to use.
Consider Professional Help
Both medication and mental health therapy have been shown to be effective at reducing the intensity of SAD symptoms.
Be Proactive
Because SAD follows a regular pattern, it is easier to anticipate the onset of symptoms than it is for other types of depression. While this pattern may not be exact, beginning these management strategies during the months leading up to the typical onset of symptoms will reduce the intensity and distress caused by symptoms.
Take an Online Screening
If you or someone you care about are concerned about Seasonal Affective Disorder or other mental health conditions, take our online screening now. Many screenings are available. All screenings are confidential and provide information to help you determine your next steps.
Grieving During the Holidays
The grief bubbles up unbidden. I never know when or where it will surface, but inevitably it comes when I least want it. My mom contracted COVID-19 six months ago. She nearly died of complications from the virus. The anticipatory grief I experienced was different from...
Foolish Mistakes, Calculated Risks and Taking a Leap of Faith
Growing up, I made my share of foolish mistakes. As a kid, I remember being on a skateboard and holding on to a rope tied to a bike that a friend was riding. We got going pretty fast, and then I fell face forward on the pavement. My face was OK, but I skinned up my...
Mindful Eating vs. Emotional Eating: 6 Steps for Success
What is emotional eating? Emotional eating is generally when we eat as a way to suppress or soothe negative emotions such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness and loneliness. When we work to reduce emotional eating, it is important to be aware of behaviors we can...
8 Great Reasons to Try Acupuncture
Over my 19 years of practicing complementary medicine, since earning a master’s degree in Oriental Medicine, the most common question I hear from people is: “Will acupuncture treat my _________?” Fill in the blank. About 90% of the time the answer is YES! Acupuncture...
How to Break a Sugar Habit
Have you ever wondered why once you eat something sweet, you keep craving more sugar? It’s not a coincidence; sugar addiction is real! If sweets are getting in your way of achieving your health goals, you CAN break the habit! In today’s society, we eat ‘dessert’...
What Can I Do to Improve My Sleep?
Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? It’s Sunday afternoon and while sitting in my recliner watching television, I end up taking a nap over two hours. Why am I not able to fall asleep at my normal bedtime hour? I had to work late and ended up eating later than...
When Should You Start Screening for Colon Cancer? 50? 45? Never?!
When Should You Start Screening for Colon Cancer? 50? 45? Never?! If you answered 45 – good for you! Most people don’t realize that the recommended age by the American Cancer Society (ACS) to begin these screenings has been lowered from 50 to 45—and sooner if you have...
Should I Take Aspirin to Prevent a Heart Attack?
There’s been a hot and cold romance with the daily use of aspirin to prevent heart attacks and other conditions for years. On one hand, it’s been shown to reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack. On the other hand, it’s been shown to increase the risk of bleeding,...
Women Don’t Talk About it but They Should Know About it: Gynecological Cancer
Compared to other cancers gynecologic cancer is relatively rare, but it is still important for women to know about it and take action for prevention and treatment. Some forms of it can be prevented by taking simple steps. Others have no preventative measures and...
Is It Heartburn or Am I Having a Heart Attack?
It’s 9 p.m. on a Thursday night and my phone rings. I am on call for the hospital, but this time, the caller is actually a family friend. She says, “I keep having issues with indigestion and what feels like really bad heartburn. I’ve tried taking TUMS but it doesn’t...
How to Survive the Holidays with Diabetes
It’s that time of year when the leaves are falling, days are getting shorter and finally it’s jacket weather. For those living with diabetes this can be a tough stretch ahead…the dreaded Holidays. Does this sound familiar? It’s much tougher to get that evening walk in...
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