Sun exposure helps lower blood pressure.
British scientists have discovered that just 20 minutes of sun exposure each day can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
According to new research, ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight not only help the body produce vitamin D but also help lower blood pressure. Photo: Telegraph
A research team from the University of Edinburgh measured the blood pressure of volunteers. They then asked the subjects to spend 20 minutes under a ultraviolet (UV) tanning lamp to control the amount of light exposure.
The experimental results showed that after exposure to ultraviolet light, the blood pressure of the volunteers decreased and remained lower than before exposure for one hour.
When subjects were exposed to heat but avoided UV light from the lamp, their blood pressure also decreased during the exposure but then quickly rose back to its original level.
The authors claim that this finding may force us to reconsider current popular advice about sun exposure.
High blood pressure is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Scientists believe that sunlight, or UV rays, causes stored nitrogen in the body to be released into the bloodstream, relaxing blood cells and lowering blood pressure.
However, excessive sun exposure is also a major cause of skin cancer. Therefore, experts warn people against prolonged sun exposure without protection.
Dr. Richard Weller, a senior lecturer in dermatology at the University of Edinburgh and the lead researcher, emphasized that they still need to conduct further research before they can advise patients on how to use sunlight to treat high blood pressure.
Weller said: "We now plan to look at the relative risks of heart disease and skin cancer in people exposed to different doses of sunlight. If the new work confirms that sunlight reduces mortality from all causes, we will have to reconsider advice on sun exposure. We suspect that the benefits of sunlight for heart health will far outweigh the risk of skin cancer."
According to Vietnamnet - LY
