ASK THE DOCTOR What can I do to beat the winter blues?
THE winter really gets me down and I’m pretty sure I get that seasonal depression thing. Do you think light boxes are any good or should I just get a sun bed? My husband says I should grin and bear it!
Marie, Castlebar
SEASONAL depression, also called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is a very real complaint and a well-recognised clinical condition. In Ireland, about 6 per cent of adults become depressed in response to the change in seasons.
SAD tends to start in the late 20s and is four times more common in women (pre-menopause) than in men. Those who suffer with seasonal depression often find it difficult to wake up in the morning, experience low moods and an increased appetite. You probably have little interest in anything, from sex to socialising, have difficulty concentrating, and feel flat and lethargic.
It is important to get out into daylight, take exercise and eat healthily. Tell friends and family how you feel. Speak to your GP if you feel SAD is really interfering with daily life — he or she can help you deal with it by finding you a ‘talking cure’ or by medication — whichever is deemed appropriate.
Light boxes have been found to reduce depression, sleepiness and fatigue with two-thirds of users feeling their symptoms improve. The great thing is you don’t have to sit there and stare at the light — you can have it on in the background while you work or wash the dishes. You need to use a light box for roughly an hour a day and it takes a couple of weeks before you feel the benefit.
You can’t get a light box on the HSE, but you can buy them at pharmacies and department stores. Always ensure the device meets safety requirements and evidence-based guidelines.
Finally, don’t be tempted to take a sun bed. This is no substitute for sunshine and will not lift your depression — but it may increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
I GOT married last year and we have been trying for a baby. I became pregnant in May but sadly miscarried at 15 weeks. How long should we wait before we try again? Do I need any tests? Louise, Dublin
I AM SORRY to hear about your loss. I know it is probably of little comfort, but as many as one in eight women who know they are pregnant have a miscarriage. Statistically, up to one in four pregnancies are thought to end in miscarriage, but often the woman is unaware that she is pregnant because it happens so early on that it may seem like a heavy period.
We define a miscarriage as the loss of a pregnancy sometime during the first 23 weeks, although in 75 per cent of cases the miscarriage occurs during the first 12 weeks.
Unfortunately for you, yours was later than the time we advise women to wait to announce their pregnancy (at 12 weeks) and as a result I am sure it made it more difficult to come to terms with your loss.
Rest assured that in the vast majority of cases there is no specific cause for miscarriage — it is not due to anything you have or have not done, but rather to chance. This is why we don’t investigate after miscarriage, as it is unlikely to impact further pregnancies.
GENERALLY tests are only undertaken if you suffer three consecutive miscarriages, which happens to around one in 100 women. This is what doctors call recurrent miscarriage.
Your period usually returns four to eight weeks after a miscarriage. In terms of trying to conceive again, if you feel physically and mentally able for it there is no medical reason why you shouldn’t do so.
It is essential that both you and your husband get support. Remember, your husband has suffered a loss too, and although he may be putting on a brave face, he needs help to as well.
If you share your loss, you will be surprised to find out how many women have suffered similarly, even family members who many never have mentioned it before. For advice and support,
miscarriage.ie is also an excellent source.