Sunlight - New Hypertension Medicine That Boosts Heart Health

Sunlight could be the best free solution to treat hypertension. British researchers have revealed a link between exposure to sunlight and lower blood pressure.

A collaborative study conducted by researchers at the Universities of Southampton and Edinburgh reveals that exposure to ultraviolet radiations of the sun helps lower blood pressure and eliminates risk of heart attack and stroke.

The researchers explain that sunlight modifies the levels of nitric oxide present in blood and skin, thus lowering blood pressure and cutting risk of a cardiac event. These tiny nitric oxide (NO) molecules act as small messenger molecules.

"NO along with its breakdown products, known to be abundant in skin, is involved in the regulation of blood pressure. When exposed to sunlight, small amounts of NO are transferred from the skin to the circulation, lowering blood vessel tone; as blood pressure drops, so does the risk of heart attack and stroke," Martin Feelisch, Professor of Experimental Medicine and Integrative Biology at the University of Southampton, said in a release.

It is important to limit the amount of sunlight the skin receives as it causes skin cancer. However, low exposure elevates risk of common conditions linked to cardiovascular disease.

For the study, researchers exposed 24 healthy subjects to ultraviolet (UVA) light from tanning lamps. This was done for 20 minutes in two different sessions. In the first session the subjects were exposed to the heat of the lamp as well as the UVA rays. In the second, the subjects were exposed to just the heat of the lamp. They blocked the emission of the UVA rays.

They noticed that the UVA rays widened the blood vessels, significantly reducing blood pressure and altering the NO levels in the circulation without altering levels of Vitamin D. Experiments further revealed that the pre-formed group of NO in the upper layers of the skin was engaged in mediating these effects.

Professor Feelisch further explains, "These results are significant to the ongoing debate about potential health benefits of sunlight and the role of Vitamin D in this process. It may be an opportune time to reassess the risks and benefits of sunlight for human health and to take a fresh look at current public health advice."

The study was documented in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.