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Health See other Health Articles Title: "Sunshine Therapy" Could Revolutionize Heart Health In a new study brought to you by some of the fairest people on the planet, research from the University of Edinburgh "suggests sunlight helps reduce blood pressure, cutting heart attack and stroke risks and even prolonging life. UV rays were found to release a compound that lowers blood pressure... Heart disease and stroke linked to high blood pressure are estimated to lead to about 80 times more deaths than those from skin cancer in the UK." It's rare indeed to hear medical professionals advising us to get more sun. After all, for the past few decades, sun has been the bogeyman that causes skin cancer, premature aging, and a host of other skin problems. And I'm sure many of you have experienced the pain of a bad sunburn. Sunburn is the effect of the sun's UV rays having damaged and inflamed your skin cells, causing the red, heated, and painful-to-the-touch condition. Sometimes the UV rays damage the skin cells enough to result in a mutation of your DNA. Skin cancer happens when this DNA mutation tells the affected skin cells to copy themselves uncontrollably. While skin cancer is a legitimate concern, the University of Edinburgh's study questions much of our solar-phobia. Up until now, most people just assumed that vitamin D production was the only benefit of sun exposure to the human body... Vitamin D is one of the most crucial components of the human body: It helps the bones absorb calcium (making them stronger), and is necessary for muscle movement (including the heart and stomach), transmissions between brain cells, and fighting off foreign bodies in the immune system, just to name a few of its duties. Advertisement Men over 50: How healthy is your "sex gland"? Most men think blood flow is the cause of their problems in the bedroom... But did you know that the main cause of sexual dysfunction isn't blood flow? To discover a little-known sex gland booster, simply click here. Lack of sunlight has also been thought responsible for Seasonal Affective Disorder (also known as the winter blues) — especially in locations that experience few hours of sunlight during the colder months. There are now vitamin D supplements and full-spectrum light bulbs to deal with both of those problems. But is there a similar alternative for the heart-healthy benefits of the sun? We won't really know until scientists understand just exactly how sun exposure leads to these benefits... Until then, my advice to you is use it as an excuse to get outside and get more sunlight — and exercise! The psychological benefits of being outdoors — at a park, or at the beach with friends and family — can't be overstated. Of course, you can take certain actions to minimize the risks to your skin from the sun's rays. The most important thing is to know your skin's limits. To get the full benefits of the suns rays, you'll need to do it without sunblock inhibiting the ray's interactions with your skin — but only up to a point. A burn is the sign that your cells are damaged because you got too much sun. So you'll want to get as much sunlight as you can without burning your skin. This will vary from person to person: the lighter your skin, the less sunlight exposure you'll need. I'm a relatively fair guy, and can probably be out in direct sunlight for 45 minutes before I start to burn. If you're planning on spending longer than your "burn time" outside, you'll want to take the standard sun precautions (after you get your desired dose of sunlight, of course): Apply SPF 30 sunscreen (or a higher level) on all exposed parts of your skin. Make sure it blocks both UVA and UVB rays (it may be labeled something like "Full Spectrum Protection"). Cover up with clothes, hats, and sunglasses. You'll also want to hydrate by drinking plenty of water while out in the sun, as this will keep your skin cool and prevent it from drying out and burning more quickly. I'd also highly recommend getting a yearly (at least!) skin cancer screening from your physician or local medical clinic. The more time you spend in the sun, the more often you should get the screening. The sun's most intense rays can be found during the summer between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., closer to the equator, and at higher altitudes. So if you're going to sun yourself under any of those conditions, you'll probably want to take extra precautions to avoid a burn. Don't let society's irrational fear of sun exposure stop you from enjoying the health benefits of its life-giving rays... With the proper precautions, you can enjoy all it has to offer. Poster Comment: UV B is available from the sun when it's above 60 degrees. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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