Time outdoors can greatly benefit our health
Technology has made it so we don’t have to leave our home to connect with others. Those digital connections, however, might be keeping us from the benefits that come from spending time outside.
“There are quite a few benefits from spending time outdoors, but the most obvious one is when you get outside, it’s nice, it’s bright and it’s vibrant,” said Ottilia Bulathsinghalage, FNP, with Middletown Family Practice. “All of these are highly associated with boosting life satisfaction.”
People often respond positively when they step outside on a warm, sunny day, but the benefit is more than skin deep. Studies have shown that time outdoors can support a person’s physical and mental health.
The body produces vitamin D when it is exposed to the UVB rays from the sun. Research has shown that vitamin D can protect the body against a variety of diseases, including cancer and osteoporosis. People tend to move more when they’re outside, and increased movement or exercise helps guard against cardiovascular disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Moving about outside requires more energy to adjust to varying terrain and, in turn, the body secretes more oxygen and carbon dioxide, which has been shown to increase calorie consumption, Bulathsinghalage said.
Spending time outside should be done in a safe manner to reduce the risks that come from sun exposure.
“The most common risk of being exposed to the sun’s rays is skin cancer,” said Bulathsinghalage, who practices with Premier Physician Network. “Melanoma skin cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer are both associated with exposure to the sun’s UV rays.”
Exposure to the sun can also lead to inflammation, which weakens a person’s immune system. It also predisposes a person to premature aging and places them at an increased risk for cataracts or other eye damage, she said. These risks shouldn’t deter a person from spending time outdoors but instead should motivate them to take the proper steps to ensure their time in the sun or shade is spent in a safe manner.
Watch the clock — Consider avoiding time outside between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the most intense. Time can be spent in the shade during these times, but sunscreen should still be applied.
Lather up — Sunscreens come in several SPF levels. SPF stands for sun protection factor and indicates how long a sunscreen will protect the average person’s skin from becoming red. If a person uses a SPF of 30, then it would take a person 30 times longer for their skin to burn than if they didn’t use sunscreen at all. The
Skin Cancer Foundation advises everyone to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day whether a sunny or cloudy day.
Choose the right gear — Wear clothing, hats and sunglasses that help protect the skin and eyes against the sun’s rays. Long-sleeve shirts are now made with cooler fabrics, and hats include protective pieces to cover the ears — an area of the body that is often overlooked but highly at risk for skin cancer.
To schedule an appointment with a Premier Physician Network provider near you, visit PremierHealth. com/MakeAnAppointment.