Ideas change everything

Could the sun be good for your heart?

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Richard Weller |

TEDxGlasgow

• March 2012

Our bodies get Vitamin D from the sun, but as dermatologist Richard Weller suggests, sunlight may confer another surprising benefit too. New research by his team shows that nitric oxide, a chemical transmitter stored in huge reserves in the skin, can be released by UV light, to great benefit for blood pressure and the cardiovascular system. What does it mean? Well, it might begin to explain why Scots get sick more than Australians ...

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Our bodies get Vitamin D from the sun, but as dermatologist Richard Weller suggests, sunlight may confer another surprising benefit too. New research by his team shows that nitric oxide, a chemical transmitter stored in huge reserves in the skin, can be released by UV light, to great benefit for blood pressure and the cardiovascular system. What does it mean? Well, it might begin to explain why Scots get sick more than Australians ...

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxGlasgow, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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About the speaker

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Dermatologist Richard Weller wants to know: Why are Scots so sick?

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Why are dermatologists telling people to stay out of the sun?

Richard Weller recommends reading this study of sun exposure in Sweden, which he says reaches "fascinating, important and striking" conclusions.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxGlasgow, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.