During the fall and winter months, as days
get shorter and sunlight scarce, some people "get the
blues," and soon recover. But those suffering from seasonal
affective disorder or "SAD" go though a much more dramatic
experience, which is often difficult to overcome without
help.
People
with SAD tend to sleep a lot, overeat, and consequently
gain weight during fall or winter. They can feel extremely
tired and are unable to maintain a regular schedule. Some
feel depressed and irritable, and even loose interest
in social interactions.
SAD is
thought to be caused by a disturbance in the sleep-wake-cycle
due to a decrease in sunlight during the winter. Less
sunlight leads to low levels of the hormone melatonin,
which causes the excess sleep and tiredness characteristic
of SAD. When the spring returns, the symptoms tend to
go away.
Spinal stenosis can result in debilitating back pain
or paralysis if left untreated.
EMG was developed during World War II but, until now,
there have been no controlled studies of EMG for spinal
stenosis. For their study, researchers at the University
of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, used EMG to examine
150 back pain patients.
They found that EMG can reduce misdiagnosis of low back
pain and other common neuromuscular conditions that cause
similar symptoms. More accurate diagnosis can help avoid
unnecessary back surgery.
The study authors concluded that EMG is the only way
to prevent misdiagnosis, and that MRI should not be used
as the only proof that a person has spinal stenosis. The
study appears in this month's issue of Spine.
"EMG plays an important role in the diagnosis of back
pain because, unlike MRI, EMG is more than a picture of
a nerve, it can test nerve function and show if there
is actual nerve damage," study author Dr. Andrew Haig,
an associate professor in the department of physical medicine
and rehabilitation, said in a prepared statement.
"The EMG is really going to help doctors to avoid unnecessary
procedures because it proves that there is nerve damage
in the people who clearly have it and can accurately diagnosis
spinal stenosis," Haig said.
