Impact Of Light On Health And Welfare

Lighting in the healthcare profession arises concerns with issues such season affective disorder (SAD), sleep disruption, diminished immune system and many other things. Seasonal affective disorder is depression that occurs for an individual usually during the Winter period. People that live in places with longer Winter nights are at a greater risk, but factors of this disorder include light, genes, body temperature and hormones. As far as treatment goes for SAD, doctors recommend antidepressants or becoming more adjusted to the light, either by spending time outside during daylight hours or providing you with a special lamp. Circadian rhythm can also be affected by light, a term know as light-dark cycle. This term states that animals or humans kept in the dark for extended periods eventually push back or forward their sleep cycle. This means that light or lack there of can affect your health over time by confusing you and throwing off what normally you would do. In the medical profession lighting plays a major part because there are safety as well as health concerns for the employees and the patients alike. Lighting has to be integrated to allow for egress and it must function properly for its intended use. Rooms must be able to be dimmed or brightened up by the use of blinds or lights to allow for different patient types. With health care, lighting must play a much more bigger concern because it’s the welfare of the people and the safety of its occupants and employees that must be considered. It’s much more about safety than creating a beautiful and surreal experience like you would find in a structure. You can find circumstances I’m sure where the two worlds can mesh and create something stunning but also something that’s safe for its attendants as well.