When it comes to your health, it's no secret that burning your body in the sun isn't a good idea. Apart from the risks of sunburn or heatstroke, you could also increase your chances of developing skin cancer. Let's delve into the potential consequences of this situation together.
Now, research indicates that basking in the sun's rays can increase your risk of heart disease and hinder your body's immune response.
Inflammation, associated with the risk of heart disease, is a normal part of the body's response to infection or injury.
This can lead to atherosclerosis, thickening or hardening of arteries that increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Dr. Daniel Riggs, an epidemiologist and environmental medicine professor, led the team that examined blood samples from 624 participants as part of the Louisville Green Heart Project, investigating how greening neighborhoods could improve air quality and reduce heart diseases.
Cytokines and immune cells were used to gauge how much the body ramped up its defenses in response to a perceived threat.
Dr. Riggs noted that hot weather was associated with higher levels of white blood cells known as monocytes and killer T cells, indicating that heat might trigger inflammation or an immune response.
Dr. Riggs mentioned, 'With rising global temperatures, the link between heat exposure and a temporarily weakened immune response is concerning because heat and humidity are significant environmental factors for infectious, airborne diseases.'
'Therefore, people may be at a higher risk of heat exposure, as well as more vulnerable to illness or inflammation, especially during the hottest days of summer.'