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High Blood Pressure - On the Sunny Side of the Street
It is one of those situations where, after examining the facts,
you almost feel like you are caught between a rock and a hard
spot. Or perhaps better yet between the shade and the sun. For
many years now the public has been cautioned against excess
amounts of sun exposure. And clearly there is truth behind this.
Skin cancer is a very real risk, and precautions such as sun
block and long sleeved clothing should be taken when going out
in the sun. Yet just as it is generally advised that you should
not lay unprotected on the beach for hours at a time, summer
after summer, it is steadily becoming more apparent that a lack
of sunlight can have very negative, far-reaching consequences on
your health as well. In recent years numerous well-respected
studies, such as one carried out by the University of Maine,
have shown that lack of sunlight may in fact be the cause of, or
a large contributing factor behind, some people's high blood
pressure.
Probably the most well-known health problem that can stem from a
severe lack of sunlight is vitamin D deficiency, often seen in
the form of rickets. This condition occurs because the human
body produces its vitamin D through sunlight expose (it can also
be obtained through artificial ultra violet light, supplements
and some foods). Much like trees and greenery, humans need
vitamin D to thrive and develop properly. We have millions upon
millions of red corpuscles that flow continually through the
blood vessels in every part of our skin. Tucked away beneath
these vessels are little oil glands that are called sterols.
When sterols are exposed to sunlight a substance inside of them
is changed and it turns into vitamin D. This vitamin D is in
turn carried to every part of your body, including your heart,
kidneys and blood.
With the help of vitamin D your kidneys are able to create a
hormone called rennin. This useful hormone is an important
helper when it comes to regulating blood pressure. In the liver
it helps to
produce a substance called calcidiol, which in turn
creates calcitriol. This substance helps to control your
metabolism's calcium levels. This is a very imperative function
as the effects of this transformation stem as far as lowering
your risk of certain diseases and managing things like your
insulin levels and autoimmune system. In fact low levels of
vitamin D have been linked to many conditions including SAD,
osteoporosis, osteomalacia, hypoparathyroidism, colon cancer,
MS, and even diabetes, so it should come as no surprise that it
can also be a contributing actor behind high blood pressure.
For over fifty years scientists and physicians have been aware
of the reality that exposure to ultraviolet light (which can be
obtained from sunlight or through manmade lights) can lower
blood pressure in people who have "average" blood pressure
levels, and significantly lower levels in those with high blood
pressure.
Does this mean that if you have high blood pressure you should
spend hours a day completely exposed to the sun? No, but more
and more researchers are finding that even small doses of
sunlight (which can be taken in while wearing sunscreen) are
good for you. It has even been put forth that sunlight through
your eyes can help with vitamin D problems too. In this modern
world of continual "indoor-ism" and hectic schedules it can be
hard to find time or ways to get enough vitamin D. Supplements
are one answer, artificial ultraviolet light another (this route
is often used to treat SAD), and natural sunlight in reasonable
amounts in another. But with all the potential good that a
little sunlight now and than can do for you one can't help but
wonder if it's time to take a walk on the sunny side of the
street. Who knows, your blood pressure may thank you for it.
About the author:
Jessica Cander is a professional freelance medical writer who
contributes to a wide variety of medical web sites, including
http://www.blood-pressure.co.il
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