新奇事件簿 伦敦常见季节性情绪失调症

Short and dark days can cause a medical conditionknown as Seasonal¹ Affective Disorder² (SAD). Doctorsare increasingly telling their patients about thisproblem in countries that have depressing weather. One of the most famous places for gray skies thatrain cats and dogs is London. A new cafe has openedthere that offers visitors 20-minute breaks from thewintertime blues³. People who want to lift their spirits can visit the newly opened Dana Cafe atthe Science Museum for some Bright Light Therapy (BLT). The cafe has a Light Lounge, wherethe light is five times brighter than regular house lights.

整日乌云密布容易造成“季节性情绪失调症”。在许多气候“阴郁”国家，失调症患者不断增加。最著名的阴雨城市要数伦敦。在伦敦一家咖啡馆，人们可以躲避“冬季抑郁”，享受20分钟轻松时光。在科学博物馆的Dana Cafe，接受“强光疗法”，赶走心中阴霾。咖啡馆设有照明休息厅，灯照强度是普通光照的五倍。

Over five million people suffer from SAD during winter in the UK. It is common knowledge thatpeople in colder countries feel more miserable⁴. This is because of a chemical imbalance in thepart of the brain that controls our moods. A lack of the chemical serotonin, which the bodyreceives from sunlight, can lead to many different symptoms. Low serotonin levels can triggerdepression, anxiety, lethargy, sleep problems, overeating and a loss of sex drive. Eightypercent of SAD cases can be treated with a BLT session.

在伦敦，超500万人会患上冬季“失调症”。众所周知，寒冷国家民众更忧郁。这是因脑部化学物质失衡，导致情绪波动引发。通过太阳光，身体会吸收化学物质血清素，血清素匮乏会产生许多症状。血清素含量低会引起抑郁、焦虑、昏睡、睡眠问题、暴饮暴食以及性欲不足。80%SAD患者可通过“强光疗法”治疗。

1 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

2 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

3 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

4 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。