Americans living in Alaska, New York, and Washington are more likely to suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) than Americans living in states such as Arizona.
Researchers found that factors such as average amount of sunlight, temperature, and precipitation during the winter all contribute to a population's likelihood of developing SAD.
SAD is a type of depression associated with decreased sunlight and affects nearly 13 million adults. For most people, symptoms such as low mood and anxiety begin in the fall and continue into the winter, when skies darken earlier and temperatures drop.
The exact cause of Seasonal Affective Disorder is unknown, but experts believe it is due to the effect darkness has on the body's internal clock, the circadian rhythm.
Research shows that little exposure to sunlight can cause a drop in mood-boosting hormones like serotonin and interfere with the body's production of melatonin, a hormone that affects sleep.
Americans living in Alaska, New York, and Washington are more likely to suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Mattress Next Day, an online UK mattress retailer, looks at multiple factors including average winter sunshine, temperature and precipitation to determine which states have their citizens at the highest risk of developing SAD. did.
Alaska was said to be the state with the highest risk of SAD. Not only is it the coldest region, with average temperatures dropping to 26.8 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.9 degrees Celsius) during the winter, residents receive the least amount of sunlight during the winter, at just 358 hours. .
Autumn also has the highest relative humidity and the second least sunny days.
Because of this, residents are more likely to stay indoors, meaning they won't be exposed to sunlight every day.
Next is New York, which receives the second fewest hours of sunshine in the winter at just 42%, or 414 hours.
The average number of sunny days is just 15, tied with Alaska for the second fewest number of sunny days.
According to MattressNextDay, Washington state ranks third, with an average of only 14 sunny days between fall and winter, making it the state with the fewest sunny days.
Vermont ranks fourth among states most likely to suffer from SAD. During the winter, temperatures reach 45.7 degrees Fahrenheit (7.6 degrees Celsius), and the state receives only about 451 total hours of sunlight.
Vermont is followed by Michigan, which receives only 474 hours of sunshine and 19 days without rain during the cold season.
Meanwhile, the states least likely to suffer from SAD are Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico.
All three have moderate temperatures. For example, in Arizona, the average fall temperature is approximately 61.3 degrees Fahrenheit (16.3 degrees Celsius).
These states also have some of the lowest rainfall (Nevada's winter rainfall is just 0.7 inches, or 19 mm).
SAD can also occur during the transition from spring to summer. Usually this coincides with daylight saving time, which in the United States always starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms include feeling sad most days, loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed, low energy or sluggishness, sleeping too much, craving carbohydrates, overeating, weight gain, and difficulty concentrating. These include depression, feelings of hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts.
During this time, you're more likely to oversleep, have a change in appetite, gain weight, and feel tired.
People with a family history of SAD are more likely to develop it. The same goes for people who live far from the equator, people with mental health disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder, and people who are deficient in vitamin D.
If left untreated, SAD can lead to social withdrawal, academic and work performance problems, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
