Can sunlight Help You Avoid MS?

By Justin V. Mirang


For the last few decades we have talked about very little else aside from why you should stay away from sunlight. We've understood just how real a risk skin cancer can be and are doing almost everything we can think of to prevent it from happening. We put on countless layers of the highest SPF sunscreens that we can buy. We put on gigantic hats. Even through the hottest seasons of the year we make ourselves don long sleeves and pants. We tend to stick to the shade--some individuals may also carry parasols and umbrellas just to make sure they have exactly no contact with the sun. Now we are beginning to appreciate that sunlight can in fact help us. Can you actually be helped by the sunshine?

There is a fresh study that demonstrates people who let themselves get some exposure to direct sunlight aren't as prone to come down with MS as people who take steps to minimize sunlight contact on skin. The study was originally performed to find out how Vitamin D affects the progression of Multiple Sclerosis. Eventually it became apparent, however, that it was the Vitamin D our bodies generate as a response to exposure to the sun's rays that seems to be at the root of the issue.

We've known for a very long time that sunshine and Vitamin D can hinder the way the immune system plays a role in MS. This study, however, focuses on the affects of sunlight on people who are experiencing the very earliest symptoms of the disease. This study is trying to figure out the consequences of Vitamin D and sunshine on the precursory symptoms of the disease.

Sadly, at this time there aren't really very many ways that actually prove whether or not the hypothesis of this study are true. This study is attempting to demonstrate whether or not sunlight can truly help a person prevent Multiple Sclerosis. Unfortunately, the researchers discovered, the only way to that is to monitor people over the course of their lives. This is the only way to efficiently evaluate the currently existent levels of Vitamin D in a person's blood before the symptoms of MS start to show themselves. The way it is currently, people who get typical exposure to the sun appear to experience fewer symptoms of MS than those who live in colder or darker climates--which isn't new news.

There is also the incredibly important trouble of the fact that increased amounts of exposure to the sun increase your risk of getting skin cancer. So, in an attempt to keep one condition from setting in, you may be inadvertently causing another. Of course, skin cancer-if caught early on-has an improved possibility of being curable. MS still isn't curable.

So should you increase your direct exposure to the sun so that you don't get MS? Your doctor will help uou figure out whether or not this is an alternative for you. Your doctor will determine if you are at risk for the disease (and how much) by checking out your genetics, medical history and current health. From there a family doctor may help you discover the best ways to keep the disease at bay.




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