The benefits of a walk in the sun

Though the time change due to Daylight Savings Time can take some getting used to — particularly the lost hour of sleep — it brings with it the promise of a few more hours of sunlight in the day, more time for activities before the sun sets and those still chilly nights set in.

Joseph Stringer, a staff therapist with WellSpring, explained that we know from history and research that sports medicine usually has a psychologist attached to it and they really push moving around, getting sunshine and doing healthy activities because it starts to work up the metabolism. As people move, walk and play, he added, it builds up our dopamine and serotonin levels which help us feel better.

“We’re pretty blessed here in Wyoming,” Stringer said, “because most of the time, even in winter, it’s not that bad. If you really want a lot of activity in the winter you can shovel snow.” He and his wife enjoy taking their dogs for walk when the weather’s nice as there is benefit to those on either end of the leash. “Walking your dogs is probably one of the greatest things in the world, because they love it and they’re getting the benefit of not being cooped up in the house.”

Most have heard of the “runner’s high,” the release of endorphins that comes with running for long periods of time. As for walking compared to running, Stringer said there is a misconception that running is more beneficial. The actuality, he noted, is that a person burns about the same amount of calories whether walking or running, and walking is lower impact. Another low-impact activity readily available here is swimming.

Speaking from personal experience, Stringer said he used running as a way to deal with stress but over enough time he lost 60 pounds and brought his resting heart rate down to 50 beats per minute. Though he was able to get up to 15-20 miles per week, he started “a mile at a time then gradually worked up to it.”

As to the effect of sunlight, Stringer said it’s been shown that people in the extreme northern hemisphere, where there is hardly any sunlight for six months, were more susceptible to seasonal affect disorder. Often diagnosed as a depressive disorder, seasonal affect disorder is different.

He explained depressive disorders are a mental health issue from the brain not producing the right combination of chemicals such as dopamines, serotonin and melatonin. Typically with that kind of depression a doctor has to prescribe medication.

Seasonal affect disorder usually follows a pattern, such as changes in mentality when the days get shorter and nights get longer. Some people use medicine to help them through it or phototherapy such as a “light box.”

Seasonal affect disorder can get serious, Stringer said, even to the point where people stop eating or caring for themselves, sleeping too much or not enough, even contemplating suicide.

“Anything we can do other than staying at home and secluding ourselves is going to help,” Stringer said.