As of this writing, my family is about to embark on our annual beach vacation. Because we’re a homeschool family (well, now college and homeschool), we typically take our trip in mid to late May. This is right after finals, when the kids and the mom have reached maximum stress levels for the year. We discovered years ago that this little trip helped everyone to relax and ease into summer. It’s a chance to sleep in, play in the ocean, eat too much, play games, and, in general, “lower our blood pressures.” It was only recently that I learned that our blood pressures were actually getting lower. Hold that thought.
If there’s one thing South Carolina has a lot of (I mean, other than bugs and Baptist churches), it’s sunshine. Although we have rain and clouds, and even cold and snow, almost every weather system seems closely followed by plenty of sunlight. So much so that when I travel back north to home, I really miss it. While I don’t always enjoy the intense heat, I miss the way the bright, sunny days make me feel. I’ve tried to explain this to family members who live several latitudes up from us, but to no avail.
It turns out, like most good things, there’s scientific evidence that sunlight is good for us. Sure, it’s cheery, and you can work in the yard and do all of those projects. And ballgames don’t get canceled, and you rarely have to cancel the Sunday school picnic. But sunshine actually seems to work directly on our health. Sunlight, you see, releases nitric oxide in our skin. Nitric oxide works on our vascular system to directly lower blood pressure. No pill, no shot — just sunlight.
“But wait, there’s more!” The ultraviolet component of sunlight also stimulates our bodies to produce vitamin D. And you really want to get some vitamin D, trust me! Vitamin D is useful in producing immunity from infections. (You should consider using it during flu season in particular.) It is important for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from our diets, and thus aids in bone formation. (Remember reading about rickets? It was a disease of children in northern climates who had poor bone development due to lack of vitamin D from diets or sunshine.) The wonderful vitamin D is also involved in the development of blood cells.
What about skin cancer? Indeed, skin cancers are terrible things. In particular, melanoma is a very dangerous disease if it isn’t caught very early. However, recent research suggests that, on the balance, the health benefits of sun exposure outweigh the health risks. Obviously, you should still be careful, avoid burning and use sunblock.
So what I’m saying is this: Get out of the house! It’s a beautiful world and a wonderful time of year. Take a walk, take a hike, go for a swim, play with the kids or the grands. Hold your sweetheart’s hand and stroll down memory lane, or just park your wheelchairs side by side and bathe in the sunlight for a bit.
Because that glowing, orange ball isn’t just a big heating unit in the sky. It’s beaming healthy benefits directly to your pale body. Take advantage of them. After all, there’s no co-pay for visiting Dr. Sun.
— Edwin Leap is an emergency physician and writer who lives with his wife and four children in Walhalla. Read more at EdwinLeap.com.