Sunlight Exposure is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Stroke.

Sunlight Exposure is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Stroke.

By Marc Sorenson, EdD, Sunlight Institute

Does sunlight have an influence on the risk of having a stroke? It does.

Interesting research had as an objective to determine whether long-term or short-term sunlight exposure affected stroke incidence.1  Measurements of sunlight exposures were taken for 15-,10-,5-,2-, and 1-year exposures to sunlight among 16,606 people who were free on any coronary disease. It was found that shorter exposure periods exhibited slightly stronger protective relationships against stroke, but both long- and short-term exposures were effective. Those who were below the median sunlight exposure had an increased risk of stroke of 61%. The researchers said that they did not know the biological pathways for the protective relationship, but I surmise that the answer is sunlight-induced nitric-oxide production, which keeps the blood pressure down and keeps the vessels flexible.

Whatever the mechanism by which sunlight protects us against stroke, let’s celebrate the fact that the protection is available.

1. Kent ST, McClure LA, Judd SE, Howard VJ, Crosson WL, Al-Hamdan MZ, Wadley VG, Peace F, Kabagambe EK. Short-and long-term sunlight radiation and stroke incidence. Ann Neurol. 2013 Jan;73(1):32-7.

 

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