Sunlight has already been established as helping to lower blood pressure, but WebMD News reports that a British research team may have discovered why.  According to a new study, nitric oxide stored in the top layers of the skin reacts to sunlight and causes blood vessels to widen as the oxide moves into the bloodstream.  When the oxide moves into the bloodstream, it lowers blood pressure.

The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, notes that hypertension and cardiovascular correlate with climate.  Incidence rises in the winter and latitudes with greater sun exposure show lower incidence.  The findings were remarkable because, until now, the skin was not considered to be a mechanism in regulation of blood pressure.  It means that simply exposing the skin to ultraviolet light may reduce the risk for heart disease.

For the participants in the study, there was a modest improvement in blood pressure.  However, these participants had a normal blood pressure to begin with.  Researchers hypothesized that if a similar change was made for individuals with high blood pressure, a more marked and significant improvement in blood pressure would be seen.

The researchers caution that the answer is not simply to get more sunlight.  After all, skin cancer can be a fatal condition and the only known risk factor is exposure to sunlight.  Therefore, further research is needed to understand how sunlight can be beneficial without exposing one to other risks.  As the New York Daily News points out, these results are significant to the ongoing debate about potential health benefits of sunlight and the role of Vitamin D in this process.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are 67 million American adults with high blood pressure.  This condition puts individuals at risk for heart disease and stroke.  Of individuals who have had a first heart attack, 69 percent suffer from high blood pressure.  An estimated 348,000 annual deaths in the U.S. included high blood pressure as a primary or a contributing cause.

In order to prevent and control high blood pressure, lifestyle changes are necessary, according to the Mayo Clinic.  Lifestyle changes include decreasing sodium intake, maintaining a healthy weight, increasing physical activity, not using tobacco, limiting alcohol intake, home monitoring of blood pressure, and managing stress levels through lifestyle modification and relaxation practice.  According to a recent study published in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, green tea may also help improve the efficacy of blood pressure medication.