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If you’re concerned about your health then you’re probably aware of what you eat and how much exercise you do. These two factors are key to your long term health and wellbeing. However, you probably haven’t thought about the dangers of your physical location. There are certain places in the world that are considered to be a health risk factor. This is usually because of your circadian rhythm and the amount of sunlight your location offers. Getting enough sunlight is absolutely essential for your health, and not just for the vitamins it offers. So if you want to understand this essential element of your health and wellbeing, keep reading.

 

The Benefits of Sunlight

By now, most people know that sunlight is absolutely necessary for Vitamin D. This vitamin is essential for calcium absorption. This means that it’s a key component in bone health and growth as well as the health of your skin, nails and hair. If you don’t have enough Vitamin D you risk developing osteoporosis, breast cancer, heart disease and colon cancer. Vitamin D also helps to regulate your immune system and your neuromuscular system.

 

But this vitamin does more than improve the health of your body. It’s also essential for your mood and motivation. Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to a higher risk of depression as well as other mood disorders. It also lowers motivation. So if you’re struggling with these kinds of disorders it’s worth checking your Vitamin D levels. Correcting this imbalance could be pivotal in improving your mood and your general health and wellbeing.

 

The Health Risk of Your Location

Putting on sunscreen and staying out of the sunlight is common advice these days. Even in countries that don’t get as much sun this is usually the case. Too much sunlight can be very dangerous for your health, and it also increases the physical signs of aging. That’s why many people try to avoid it as much as possible.

 

But this advice has gone too far, resulting in a sharp increase in Vitamin D deficiencies. This is particularly true for people who live away from the equator where there are fewer hours of sunlight and less intense light. And if you live in a location that has long winters, this problem is compounded. So if you’re evaluating your health risk, make sure you take your location and access to sunlight into account.

 

Sunlight and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

A recent study has even suggested that lack of sunlight may play a role in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD is an extremely disruptive and debilitating mental disorder. It causes obsessive behaviors and thoughts and affects around 22 million adults in the US alone. There is no cure for this disorder. Instead it’s controlled with a mix of behavioral interventions and medications. However, sufferers usually experience ongoing symptoms even on these regimes.

 

Now, there may be some hope on the horizon. The recent study explored whether geographical location might increase the risk of this disorder. They found that people who lived far north of the equator, with few sunny periods, usually experienced more OCD symptoms.

 

This could be because of the circadian rhythm. This is the pattern that determines the sleep/wake cycle and eating patterns. People with OCD usually complain that they can’t fall asleep, which results in them sleeping late. This further limits their exposure to sunlight, particularly morning sunlight, which is essential for regulating the circadian rhythm. This may be the cause of the increased OCD symptoms. More research is underway to investigate this link. If it proves fruitful, it could provide a new treatment option that could help people with OCD manage their symptoms.

 

The Implications of the Study

Even if you don’t have OCD, this breakthrough has implications for your health. This is particularly true if you live in an area with low levels of sunlight. Although you probably can’t change where you live, being aware of the health risk is important. It means that you can take measures to increase your exposure to sunlight. This will help you to negate the negative effects of your geographical location.

 

The first thing you need to do is to get a Vitamin D test. This will indicate whether you’re getting enough sunlight. And if you’re not, make sure you start taking steps to correct this imbalance.

 

 

 

If you’re concerned about your health risk, try using HomeLab to keep track of your condition and any preventative measures you take. And if you see signs of a significant problem, you should check with your doctor as soon as possible.

 

Tags: Health risk, circadian