Catch Spring Fever

Thursday Mar 12th, 2020

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If you find your mind wandering as the weather warms, blame it on your physiology. Scientists say spring fever isn’t just a state of mind but a biological imperative.

Spring fever’s symptoms start during the vernal equinox. In the northern hemisphere, people begin to feel more energetic, enthusiastic, and amorous. Losing weight is easier and folks walk around smiling.

The cause of such behavior is the chemical changes that take place in the body in part because of longer days and increased exposure to daylight.

Increased light sends signals to the brain’s pineal gland, which then reduces the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates our body clock and controls our mood and energy levels.

As the days grow longer, the chemical disappears and people feel more energized and confident. Increased light also transmits to the hypothalamus, the section of the brain that regulates eating, sleeping, and sex drive. The light can also trigger a sense of euphoria or sometimes of sadness and melancholy.

 

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