Study: Sunlight may lower blood pressure

Tuesday, January 28, 2014, 3:30 PM -

Stepping out into the sunshine can bring unexpected health benefits, like lowering blood pressure.

That's the suggestion coming out of a new study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Researchers exposed volunteers in a lab to ultraviolet-A radiation that's equivalent to spending 30 minutes in the summertime sun in southern Europe.

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They found that participants' blood pressure dropped, but they're not sure why.

But despite the benefits, moderation is important.

You shouldn't get so much direct exposure that you risk skin cancer, and wear sunscreen when outside for prolonged periods of time.