The Benefits of Sun Exposure for a Longer Life Expectancy

A study from Sweden shows that people who are frequently exposed to sunlight on average have a longer life expectancy than people who avoid sun exposure.

Researcher Pelle Lindqvist published the results of a large study monitoring the health of around 30,000 women in 2014.

The study found that on average women who spent more time in the sun lived one to two years longer than those who avoided the sun.

Reporting from Between, the increase in life expectancy comes from lower rates of cardiovascular disease and other diseases not related to cancer. Including type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and chronic lung disease.

Other studies have also identified similar patterns. In research last July, Richard Weller of the University of Edinburgh and his colleagues monitored 376,729 people of white descent for an average of 13 years, they found that people who were more active in seeking sunlight were 14 percent less likely to die from any cause than with those who avoid sunlight.

This means sun seekers had an average of about 50 additional days of survival compared to people away from sun exposure.

“A 50-day lifespan extension at a population level, that’s a huge number, the more sunlight a person gets, the longer they live,” Weller said.

Other mechanisms may also play a role. About 15 years ago, Weller discovered that large deposits of nitric oxide, a powerful substance that dilates blood vessels in human skin, were activated by UVA rays, resulting in a temporary, but significant, decrease in blood pressure.

Additionally, Vitamin D is produced in the body when UVB rays in sunlight react with a chemical in the skin called 7-dehydrocholesterol.

Bone and muscle cells use vitamin D to regulate calcium and phosphorus levels, which are necessary to keep the body strong and healthy.

While immune cells also use it to help fend off harmful microbes and promote wound repair.

Vitamin D receptors are also found in other body tissues including the heart and brain, and in recent years the list of diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency has grown to include cardiovascular disease, infections, and cancer.

One way to get the best out of the sun is to check the UV index, which tells you how strong the sun’s UV rays are and when you are most at risk of burns.

If the number is three or more, a person needs to consider protecting their skin, especially if they have fair skin or many moles or freckles, or a personal or family history of skin cancer.

Protect skin with clothing, spend time in the shade when the UV index is high, usually between 11am and 3pm and use sunscreen.

“Sunscreen definitely prevents skin aging, and prevents burning. It should be used because that’s what matters,” Weller said. (ant/saf/ipg)

2023-10-02 13:42:23
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