Winter Tiredness
Fatigue can feel like a syndrome in winter.
And there is a biological reason for this: with less daylight, the body produces more melatonin which makes us feel drowsier than normal. This sets the tone for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a mood disorder usually experienced during winter time and characterized by symptoms including:
- Depression
- Mood Swings
- Weight loss
- Trouble sleeping
….among other symptoms. It is thought that 1 in 15 people suffer from SAD but even if you are not among this statistic, most of us will feel fatigue of some degree higher than normal during the winter months.
What can we do about it?
There are several things within your control which impact your energy levels:
- Exercise: Get outside, get your heart rate up and recoup what little vitamin D is available during the daytime. The endorphin release helps you feel happier and fights stress.
- Diet: many people are chronically deficient in iron and vitamin D, two nutrients that have an impact on mood and vitality. There are natural and delicious ways to get these into your diet.
- Managing stress: don’t work yourself to the bone simply because there is nothing else to do! Keeping stress at bay is a constant balancing act that can be weighted awkwardly during winter.
How we help at Espinosa Family Chiropractic
Chiropractic is excellent for boosting vitality because spinal adjustments help to prevent impingement to the nerves and thereby optimizes the nervous system. By improving nerve function, the body is able to balance its own chemistry quicker helping to stabilize your mood. It will also help you to think clearer and move with less pain, both of which are necessary for feeling well in winter!
Dr. Raymond Espinosa, D.C.