This is good news for those of us living in Ghana, which lies 5 degree north of the Equator..A research conducted by the Edinburgh University has found that, countries far  from the equator, with less sunlight, have higher blood pressure. This means, the opposite holds!

The research has shown that sunlight could lower blood pressure and help stop heart attacks and strokes. According to the study, when skin is exposed to sunlight for just 20 minutes, blood vessels release an important chemical called nitric oxide. This acts to lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes or blood clots

Dr Richard Weller, a senior lecturer in dermatology, pointed out that strokes and heart attacks cause many times more deaths than skin cancer.

In the first session of the research, volunteers were exposed to both UV rays and heat. But for the second session researchers blocked the UV rays, exposing them to heat alone.

The volunteers’ blood pressure dropped significantly after the first session, but not the second. This implies it is UV radiation, not heat, which is responsible for the beneficial effects.

The researchers believe sunlight unlocks nitric oxide stored in skin and widens arteries. Both effects lower blood pressure.

Dr Weller will present his findings on Friday at the International Investigative Dermatology  conference in Edinburgh. He said: ‘We suspect the benefits to heart health of sunlight will outweigh the risk of skin cancer.’