In primordial times, humans spent half of every day outdoors in the sun. But nowadays modern lifestyles mean that more and more people are spending hours shut away indoors under artificial light. And on top of this, we are wary of getting too much sun because of warnings about the dangers of skin cancer. But avoiding sunlight means we also miss out on its health benefits. This can have far-reaching consequences for our overall health.
A research team under dermatologist Dr Richard Weller have shown that too little sunlight is bad for our cardiovascular health. In winter – particularly in northern latitudes – there is a clear increase in rates of heart failure, heart attacks and strokes. This is due to the fact that sunlight has to travel to earth through a much thicker atmospheric layer and in the process loses much of its ultraviolet radiation. But it is precisely these ultraviolet rays that trigger the production of the signalling molecule nitric oxide in our skin. This molecule has a positive effect on our cardiovascular health. Nitric oxide dilates the blood vessels, regulates blood pressure and enhances blood flow to the heart.
"The positive effects of sunlight on health have still not been thoroughly researched. But numerous studies have shown that moderate exposure to sunlight is good for our overall health, including our cardiovascular systems. In winter, when the sun is very weak at northern latitudes, it is a good idea to visit a solarium", says Ad Brand of the Sunlight Research Forum (SRF).
Source:
1) Martin Feelisch, Victoria Kolb-Bachofen, Donald Liu, Jon O. Lundberg, Lucia P. Revelo, Christoph V. Suschek and Richard B. Weller: Is sunlight good for our heart?, European Heart Journal, Volume 31, Issue 9, pp. 1041-1045, Accepted February 2, 2010.
A research team under dermatologist Dr Richard Weller have shown that too little sunlight is bad for our cardiovascular health. In winter – particularly in northern latitudes – there is a clear increase in rates of heart failure, heart attacks and strokes. This is due to the fact that sunlight has to travel to earth through a much thicker atmospheric layer and in the process loses much of its ultraviolet radiation. But it is precisely these ultraviolet rays that trigger the production of the signalling molecule nitric oxide in our skin. This molecule has a positive effect on our cardiovascular health. Nitric oxide dilates the blood vessels, regulates blood pressure and enhances blood flow to the heart.
"The positive effects of sunlight on health have still not been thoroughly researched. But numerous studies have shown that moderate exposure to sunlight is good for our overall health, including our cardiovascular systems. In winter, when the sun is very weak at northern latitudes, it is a good idea to visit a solarium", says Ad Brand of the Sunlight Research Forum (SRF).
Source:
1) Martin Feelisch, Victoria Kolb-Bachofen, Donald Liu, Jon O. Lundberg, Lucia P. Revelo, Christoph V. Suschek and Richard B. Weller: Is sunlight good for our heart?, European Heart Journal, Volume 31, Issue 9, pp. 1041-1045, Accepted February 2, 2010.
