Gloomy Weather Could Be Affecting Your Mood
(CBS) -- It's been another gloomy day in Chicago and the weather is affecting peoples' moods.
WBBM's Regine Schlesinger reports this time of the year when the sunlight is limited can lead to SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Dr. Pedro Dago, medical director of the psychiatric emergency room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, says it's a form of depression that, at its most severe, can immobilize a patient.
"Light tends to synchronize very basic biological rhythms and in the absence of that sunlight, our biological rhythms begin to run independent of each other," said Dr. Dago.
That he said, can produce symptoms of depression, including insomnia or excessive sleeping, loss of interest or enjoyment in activities and trouble concentrating.
How to prevent SAD? Dr. Dago said one way, is to get off the couch.
"Exercise can be helpful in maintaining mood and now, we have even more evidence of that," he said.
In the most severe cases, Dr. Dago, says psychiatric intervention might be necessary.