Speaking about the influence of the sun on human body, it is impossible to accurately determine the harm or benefit it brings. Sun rays are like kilocalories from food. Their deficiency leads to exhaustion, and in excess they cause obesity. So it is in this situation. In moderate amounts, solar radiation has a beneficial effect on the body, while excess ultraviolet radiation provokes burns and the development of numerous diseases. Let's take a closer look.
Solar radiation: general effects on the body
Solar radiation is a combination of ultraviolet and infrared waves. Each of these components affects the body in its own way.
Effect of infrared radiation:
- The main feature of infrared rays is the thermal effect they create. Warming up the body helps to dilate blood vessels and normalize blood circulation.
- Warming has a relaxing effect on the muscles, providing a slight anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
- Under the influence of heat, metabolism increases and the processes of assimilation of biologically active components are normalized.
- Infrared radiation from the sun stimulates the functioning of the brain and visual apparatus.
- Thanks to solar radiation, the body's biological rhythms are synchronized, sleep and wakefulness modes are triggered.
- Treatment solar heat improves skin condition, eliminating acne.
- Warm light lifts the mood and improves a person’s emotional background.
- And according to recent studies, it also improves sperm quality in men.
Despite all the debate about the negative impact ultraviolet radiation on the body, its lack can lead to serious health problems. This is one of the vital factors of existence. And under conditions of ultraviolet deficiency, the following changes begin to occur in the body:
- First of all, the immune system weakens. This is caused by a violation of the absorption of vitamins and minerals, a failure of metabolism at the cellular level.
- There is a tendency to develop new or worsen chronic diseases, most often accompanied by complications.
- There is lethargy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and the level of performance decreases.
- Lack of ultraviolet radiation for children interferes with the production of vitamin D and provokes a decrease in growth rates.
However, you need to understand that excessive solar activity will not benefit the body!
Contraindications to sunbathing
Despite all the benefits of sunlight for the body, not everyone can afford to enjoy the warm rays. Contraindications include:
- acute inflammatory processes;
- tumors, regardless of their location;
- progressive tuberculosis;
- angina pectoris, ischemic disease;
- endocrine pathologies;
- defeat nervous system;
- dysfunction of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
- diabetes;
- mastopathy;
- uterine fibroids;
- pregnancy;
- recovery period after surgery.
In all cases, active radiation will aggravate the course of the disease, provoking the development of new complications.
Elderly people and infants should not get carried away with the sun. For these categories of the population, treatment with sunlight in the shade is indicated. The required dose of safe heat will be enough there.
Stories from our readers
Vladimir
61 years old
Negative effects of the sun
The time of exposure to infrared and ultraviolet waves should be strictly limited. Excessive amounts of solar radiation:
- may cause deterioration general condition body (so-called heatstroke due to overheating);
- negatively affects the skin, causing permanent changes;
- impairs vision;
- provokes hormonal imbalances in the body;
- may provoke the development of allergic reactions.
So lying on the beach for hours during periods of maximum solar activity causes enormous damage to the body.
To get the necessary portion of light, a twenty-minute walk on a sunny day is enough.
The effect of the sun on the skin
Excessive amounts of solar radiation lead to serious skin problems. In the short term, you risk getting a burn or dermatitis. This is the most small problem, which you may encounter if you get carried away with tanning on a hot day. If a similar situation is repeated with enviable regularity, the sun's radiation will become an impetus for the formation of malignant formations on the skin, melanomas.
In addition, exposure to ultraviolet radiation dries out the skin, making it thinner and more sensitive. And constant exposure to direct rays accelerates the aging process, causing the appearance of early wrinkles.
In order to protect yourself from the negative effects of solar radiation, it is enough to follow simple measures security:
- IN summer time Be sure to use sunscreen every year? Putting it on everything open areas body, including face, arms, legs and décolleté. The SPF icon on the packaging is the very same ultraviolet protection. And its degree will depend on the number indicated next to the abbreviation. When going to the store, cosmetics with an SPF level of 15 or SPF 20 are suitable. If you plan to spend time on the beach, use special means with higher rates. A cream with maximum protection SPF 50 is suitable for children's skin.
- If you need to stay outside for a long time at maximum intensity solar radiation Wear light fabrics with long sleeves. Be sure to wear a wide-brimmed hat to hide your delicate facial skin.
- Control the duration sunbathing. Recommended time is 15-20 minutes. If you stay outside for a longer period of time, try to hide from direct sunlight in the shade of trees.
And remember that in the summer, solar radiation affects the skin at any time of the day, with the exception of night hours. You may not feel any noticeable heat from infrared waves, but ultraviolet light does. high level activity, both in the morning and in the afternoon.
Negative effects on vision
The influence of sunlight on the visual apparatus is enormous. After all, thanks to light rays we receive information about the world around us. Artificial lighting can to some extent become an alternative natural light, but in conditions of reading and writing with a lamp, the load on the eyes increases.
Speaking about the negative impact of sunlight on humans and vision, we mean eye damage from prolonged exposure to the sun without sunglasses.
Some of the unpleasant sensations that you may encounter include cutting pain in the eyes, their redness, and photophobia. The most serious damage is a retinal burn.. Dry eyelid skin and the formation of fine wrinkles are also possible.
- Wear sunglasses. When purchasing, first of all pay attention to the degree of protection. Fashion models often slightly shade the light, but do not prevent the penetration of ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, it is recommended to put aside bright frames and opt for high-quality lenses.
- Make sure that direct rays do not hit your face. Stay in the shade and wear a hat, cap or other headdress with a visor.
- Don't look at the sun. If you do not experience discomfort, this does not mean that this idea is safe. Even the winter sun has enough activity to cause vision problems.
Is there a safe time of year?
The use of solar radiation as a healing procedure is a common practice. Both ultraviolet and heat are considered strong irritants. And the abuse of these benefits can cause serious problems.
Tanning is the production of melanin. To be more precise, it is a protective reaction of the skin to an irritant.
Is sun radiation dangerous at any time of the year? It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question. Everything will depend not so much on the time of year, but on geographical location. Thus, in mid-latitudes, solar radiation activity increases by 25-35% in the summer. Therefore, recommendations regarding staying outside on a clear day apply only to hot weather. In winter, residents of these regions are not threatened by ultraviolet radiation.
But residents of the equator face direct sunlight all year round. Therefore, the likelihood of negative effects on the body is present both in summer and winter. The inhabitants of northern latitudes are luckier in this regard. Indeed, with distance from the equator, the angle of incidence of the sun's rays on the earth changes, and with it the radiation activity. The length of the thermal wave increases, and at the same time the amount of heat (energy losses) decreases. Hence it is winter all year round, since the surface of the earth does not have enough heat to warm it up.
Solar radiation is our body's friend. But you shouldn't abuse this friendship. Otherwise, the consequences can be very serious. Just enjoy the warmth without forgetting about safety precautions.
The answer to the question, what is solar radiation, is the entire spectrum of light emitted by the sun. It includes visible light and all other frequencies of radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum. Compared to familiar energy sources on Earth, the Sun emits enormous amounts of energy. The type of radiation emitted by the sun is a product of its high temperature, which is caused by nuclear fusion inside the Sun's core. Solar radiation is studied by scientists because the influence of the Sun on the human body and the planet as a whole is very enormous.
Only a small fraction of solar radiation ever reaches Earth: most of it is radiated into empty space. However, the fraction that actually reaches the Earth is much larger than the amount of energy consumed on Earth by sources such as fossil fuels. The enormous amount of energy emitted by the sun can be explained by its large mass and high temperature.
Types of solar radiation
Total solar radiation, often called global radiation, is the sum of direct, diffuse, and reflected radiation. The solar radiation available to us is always a mixture of the above three components.
Types of solar radiation
Direct radiation
Direct radiation is obtained from the sun's rays moving directly from the sun to the earth. The direction of radiation is also called beam radiation or direct beam radiation. Since direct radiation is the sun's rays moving in a straight line, shadows of objects that appear in the path of the sun's rays are formed. Shadows indicate the presence of direct radiation.
In sunny areas and during the summer, direct radiation accounts for almost 70-80% of the total radiation. IN solar installations uses solar tracking to absorb most of the direct radiation. If solar system tracking is not installed, valuable direct radiation will not be captured.
Diffuse radiation
Direct radiation has a fixed direction. Diffuse radiation does not have a fixed direction. When the sun's rays are scattered by particles present in the atmosphere, these scattered sun rays account for diffuse radiation.
As pollution increases, the amount of diffuse radiation also increases. In hilly areas and during winter, the percentage of diffuse radiation increases. Maximum amount scattered radiation is captured solar panels when they are held horizontally. This means that with solar panels that are angled to track most of the direct radiation, the amount of stray radiation captured by the panels will be reduced. The greater the angle that solar panels make with the ground, the less will be the amount of scattered radiation captured by the panels.
Reflected and global radiation
Reflected radiation is the component of radiation that is reflected from surfaces other than air particles. Radiation reflected from hills, trees, houses, bodies of water reflects reflected radiation. Reflected radiation usually makes up a small percentage of global radiation, but can contribute up to 15% in snowy areas.
Global radiation is the sum of direct, diffuse and reflected radiation. Solar radiation is a combination of ultraviolet and infrared waves. Each of these components affects the body in its own way.
The influence of solar radiation on the human body
Speaking about the effect of the sun on the human body, it is impossible to determine exactly. What impact does it have on human health, harm or benefit? The sun's rays emit ultraviolet and infrared radiation. The rays of the sun are like kilocalories obtained from food. Their deficiency leads to emaciation, and in excess they cause obesity. So it is in this situation. A moderate amount of solar radiation has a positive effect on the body, while excess ultraviolet radiation provokes burns and the development of numerous diseases. Influence
Positive effects of infrared radiation
The main feature of infrared rays is that they create a thermal effect, which has a positive effect on the human body. A heating element helps to dilate blood vessels and normalize blood circulation. Heat has a relaxing effect on the muscles, providing a slight anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Under the influence of heat, metabolism increases and the processes of assimilation of biologically active components are normalized. Infrared radiation from the sun stimulates the brain and visual apparatus.
Interesting! Thanks to solar radiation, it synchronizes biological rhythms body, starting with sleep and wakefulness patterns. Treatment with infrared rays of the sun improves skin condition and eliminates acne. Warm light lifts the mood and improves a person’s emotional background. They also improve sperm quality in men and potency.
Positive effects of ultraviolet radiation
Despite all the controversy about the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation on the body, its absence can lead to serious health problems. This is one of the most important factors existence. And the lack of ultraviolet light in the body brings the following changes:
Firstly, it weakens the immune system (primarily the effect is on cells in the body). This is due to impaired absorption of vitamins and minerals, metabolic disorders at the cellular level.
The sun replenishes the lack of vitamin D There is a tendency to develop new or exacerbation of chronic diseases, complications most often occurring. Lethargy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and decreased efficiency levels were noted. Lack of ultraviolet light for children prevents the formation of vitamin D and causes a slowdown. However, you need to understand that excessive solar activity will not benefit the body.
Negative effects of the sun
Exposure time to infrared and ultraviolet waves must be strictly limited. Excessive solar radiation:
- may provoke a deterioration in the general condition of the body (so-called thermal shock due to overheating);
- negatively affect the skin, they can cause permanent changes;
- impairs vision;
- causes hormonal disturbances in the body;
- may provoke the development of allergic reactions;
- may provoke Negative influence on the human genome and the structure of human DNA;
- negatively affects the fetus;
- negatively affects the human psyche.
The effect of the sun on the skin
Excessive amounts of solar radiation lead to serious skin problems. In the short term, you risk burns or dermatitis. This is the smallest problem you may encounter when enchanted by the sun on a hot day. If this situation is repeated with enviable regularity, solar radiation will stimulate the formation of malignant tumors in skin melanoma.
In addition, ultraviolet irradiation dehydrates the skin, making it thin and sensitive. But permanent place Living under direct rays accelerates the aging process, causing the appearance of early wrinkles.
Negative impact on vision
The effect of sunlight on the visual apparatus is enormous. Indeed, thanks to the rays of light, we receive information about the world around us. Artificial lighting can be an alternative to natural light in some ways, but in terms of reading and writing using lamp light, it increases eye strain.
Talking about negative impact per person and about visible sunlight, this means eye damage from prolonged exposure to the sun without sunglasses.
Due to the discomfort you may experience, you may experience eye pain, redness, and photophobia. The most serious damage to the retina is burning. It is also possible to dry out the skin and form wrinkles.
The effects of radiation on the human body in space
Space radiation is one of the main health hazards from space flight. It is dangerous because it has enough energy to change or destroy DNA molecules, which can damage or kill cells. This can lead to health problems ranging from acute effects to long-term exposure.
Acute effects, such as changes in the blood, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, are mild and recover. Other effects of acute radiation are much more serious, such as damage to the central nervous system or even death. Such exposure should not result from exposure to cosmic radiation, unless the astronaut is exposed to solar particles, such as a solar flare, which produces high doses of radiation.
This is harmful because:
1. The sun increases the risk of cancer. We are talking about skin cancer - melanoma. Ultraviolet radiation is especially dangerous for those who have many moles on their skin and there is a hereditary risk factor.
2. The sun weakens the immune system. With a lack of ultraviolet radiation, a decrease in immunity is observed. But even more dangerous is excess sunlight - it suppresses the reactions of the human immune system. This is why you can get a cold even in sunny weather. Against the background of severe overheating and a decrease in the body’s protective reaction, the herpes virus can also wake up.
3. The sun ages the skin. Without harming your health, you can stay in the sun for no more than 15–20 minutes, and for people with very fair skin - no more than 7 minutes. Then the process of photoaging begins: under the influence of the sun, the skin loses moisture, becomes dry, and wrinkles and age spots appear on it. In the USA, scientists conducted a study using twin sisters as an example. One lived in the north of the country, the other in sunny California. The first one looked much younger than the second one.
4. The sun makes ladies courageous. Women struggling with excess hair on their face and body need to tan very carefully. Due to excess sun rays, hairs become thicker and coarser. For those who have spider veins and spider veins on their skin, excess sun is also harmful: under its influence, the blood vessels become even more fragile.
It is strictly forbidden to sunbathe if you have the following diseases: various heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases, gynecological inflammatory diseases, epilepsy, acute kidney and liver diseases, cancer, tuberculosis; you should not sunbathe during pregnancy.
This is useful because:
1. The sun protects against sclerosis. American scientists believe that people who were more exposed to ultraviolet radiation in childhood have a reduced risk of developing multiple sclerosis. The sun has a particularly beneficial effect on the weaker sex in this regard.
2. The sun preserves men's health. According to separate studies, sun exposure halves the likelihood of developing prostate cancer in men. Doctors explain this effect by vitamin D, synthesized in our body under the influence of ultraviolet rays. Scientists believe that this vitamin promotes the growth of normal cells in the prostate and blocks the activity and spread of malignant cells throughout the body. Researchers also found that men who get enough vitamin D are less likely to suffer heart attacks or strokes. To replenish vitamin D reserves, it is not at all necessary to actively sunbathe, just being outside more often is enough.
3. The sun fights fungi. It is useful to sunbathe for two very common lichens - pink and pityriasis versicolor. Despite their scary name, these fungal infections are not life-threatening and only cause superficial skin lesions. They are very common in teenagers who, due to age-related hormonal changes, are prone to excessive sweating. Under the influence of ultraviolet light, fungi die, and healthy skin forms at the sites of rashes. Moderate sunbathing is also beneficial for psoriasis.
4. The sun improves your mood. It has been scientifically proven that sunbathing saves you from depression: sunlight stimulates the production of the “happiness hormone” serotonin.
Safety regulations
Even those who are sure that sunbathing only brings benefits should not forget about certain rules:
- do not sunbathe on an empty stomach or immediately after eating;
— it’s even easier to burn in water than on the shore; it acts as a lens: it amplifies sunlight, and solar radiation passes to a depth of up to a meter. For the same reason, you should not stay in the sun without drying yourself immediately after swimming: drops of water form small lenses on the skin, which increase the possibility of sunburn;
— it’s best to sunbathe in the shade - this reduces ultraviolet radiation exposure by 50%, and the tan turns out no worse (though you will have to spend more time).
Tanning menu
Some products help you tan while protecting your skin from UV damage.
This list includes cheese (20 g per day is enough), eggs (preferably soft-boiled), cottage cheese, liver, fatty fish, brown rice, bananas, dates, beans, walnuts, almonds, peanuts, carrots, tomatoes, peaches, apricots, watermelon, melon.
Foods rich in vitamin C are necessary in the summer, but you should not overuse them: an excess of this vitamin slows down the tanning process.
The tanning process is also slowed down by tea, coffee, and chocolate.
By the way
According to several studies, sunscreens only protect the skin from burns, but not from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation on cell DNA. In other words, if you sunbathe, but do not get sunburned, the risk of melanoma still remains.
A comment
Alexander Syromyatnikov, oncologist:
— Melanoma (skin cancer) is a pathology that is directly related to increased insolation. Where there is a lot of sun, this disease occurs more often. And we, oncologists, constantly repeat: you need to be careful with the sun, you can’t sunbathe from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And those who have a lot of moles on their skin (moles are the main risk areas) should generally spend as little time in the sun as possible. And in case of any suspicious behavior of a mole: if it changes color, increases or decreases in size, or begins to bleed, you should immediately consult a doctor!
Up ▲ — Reader reviews (1) — Write a review ▼ - Print version
| Interesting article | 24 August 2014, 02:28:28 |
| e-mail: [email protected], city: DELRAY BEACH Florida | |
What time of day is the sun beneficial?
The sun emits its energy in all wavelengths, but in different ways. Approximately 44% of the radiation energy is in the visible part of the spectrum, and the maximum corresponds to the yellow-green color. About 48% of the energy lost by the Sun is carried away by near and far infrared rays. Gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet and radio radiation account for only about 8%.
The visible part of solar radiation, when studied using spectrum-analyzing instruments, turns out to be inhomogeneous - absorption lines first described by J. Fraunhofer in 1814 are observed in the spectrum. These lines arise when photons of certain wavelengths are absorbed by atoms of various chemical elements in the upper, relatively cold, layers of the Sun's atmosphere. Spectral analysis makes it possible to obtain information about the composition of the Sun, since a certain set of spectral lines exclusively accurately characterizes chemical element. For example, using observations of the spectrum of the Sun, the discovery of helium was predicted, which was isolated later on Earth.
During observations, scientists found that the Sun is a powerful source of radio emission. Radio waves penetrate into interplanetary space and are emitted by the chromosphere (centimeter waves) and the corona (decimeter and meter waves). Radio emission from the Sun has two components – constant and variable (bursts, “noise storms”). During strong solar flares, radio emission from the Sun increases thousands and even millions of times compared to radio emission from the quiet Sun. This radio emission is non-thermal in nature.
X-rays come mainly from upper layers chromosphere and corona. The radiation is especially strong during the years of maximum solar activity.
The sun emits not only light, heat and all other types of electromagnetic radiation. It is also a source of a constant flow of particles - corpuscles. Neutrinos, electrons, protons, alpha particles, and heavier atomic nuclei all together make up the corpuscular radiation of the Sun. A significant part of this radiation is a more or less continuous outflow of plasma - the solar wind, which is a continuation of the outer layers of the solar atmosphere - the solar corona. Against the background of this constantly blowing plasma wind, individual regions on the Sun are sources of more directed, enhanced, so-called corpuscular flows. Most likely, they are associated with special regions of the solar corona - coronal holes, and also, possibly, with long-lived active regions on the Sun. Finally, the most powerful short-term fluxes of particles, mainly electrons and protons, are associated with solar flares. As a result of the most powerful flares, particles can acquire speeds that are a noticeable fraction of the speed of light. Particles with such high energies are called solar cosmic rays.
Solar corpuscular radiation has a strong influence on the Earth, and primarily on the upper layers of its atmosphere and magnetic field, causing many geophysical phenomena. From harmful influence The radiation from the sun protects us from the magnetosphere and atmosphere of the Earth.
UV is that part of solar radiation that gives the skin a pleasant brown tint and promotes the body's production of vitamin D, which is essential for bones. This vitamin is also involved in the regulation of cell division and even to some extent prevents the development of colon and stomach cancer. Under the influence of sunlight, the so-called “pleasure hormones”, endorphins, are produced.
The human body knows how to protect itself from harmful compounds produced under the influence of sunlight. DNA damage is quickly repaired thanks to a special system that controls its integrity. And if a change does occur in the cell, it is recognized by the immune system as foreign and destroyed. Unfortunately, sometimes the body cannot cope with this damage, especially since UV suppresses the activity of the immune system. That is why, when arriving from warm countries, people often catch a cold.
At the same time, suppression of the immune system is the main mechanism for treating diseases such as atopic dermatitis and some other skin diseases using ultraviolet light.
UV is divided into three spectra depending on wavelength. Each spectrum has its own characteristics of impact on the human body.
- Spectrum C has a wavelength from 100 to 280 nm. This is the most active range, the rays easily penetrate through skin and cause destructive effects on the cells of the body. Fortunately, such rays practically do not reach the surface of the Earth, but are absorbed ozone layer atmosphere.
- Spectrum B (UVB) has a wavelength of 280-320 nm and makes up about 20% of all UV radiation hitting the Earth's surface. These rays cause redness on the skin during sun exposure. They quickly cause the formation of active compounds in human skin, affecting DNA and causing disruption of its structure.
- Spectrum A, whose wavelength is 320-400 nm, accounts for almost 80% of the UV radiation that reaches human skin. Thanks to longer length waves, these rays have 1000 times less energy than UVB, so they almost do not cause sunburn. They contribute significantly less to the production of biologically active substances that can affect DNA. However, these rays penetrate deeper than UVB, and the rays they produce harmful substances remain in the skin much longer.
Tanning is primarily damage to the skin.
The damaging effects of the sun gradually accumulate in the body, and can make themselves felt many years later in the form of skin cancer.
Parents, please note: if a child receives a sunburn that causes blisters, especially if this happens more than once, the risk of developing melanoma in the future increases several times!
People have different levels of protection from the harmful rays of the sun. People with dark skin have more strong defense, and people with red hair or blondes with blue eyes are more susceptible to the damaging effects of the sun's rays than others.
UV can sometimes contribute to the development of itchy rashes. With solar urticaria, itchy rashes resembling a nettle burn develop between 30 minutes and two hours after exposure. Polymorphic light rash - after 1-2 days. This disease also appears as itchy rashes at the site of radiation, but they go away more slowly than solar urticaria and look different. There are other diseases for which UV is a stimulus for development. For example, lupus erythematosus, rosacea, pellagra (vitamin B3 deficiency), and others.
Many medications taken orally can cause skin rashes when exposed to sunlight. There are some herbs that cause severe redness and blistering when exposed to the skin in the sun. First of all, these are plants from the umbrella family, among which the strongest is hogweed. In addition, celery, parsley, lime, parsnip and others can cause such dermatitis.
How to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun, and at the same time get the benefits and pleasure from it?
The answer is simple: you need to use sunscreen. It is not at all necessary to take a cream with maximum protection (SPF 50+). A product with SPF 15 already provides 80% protection from sun rays. This means that part of the UVB will reach the skin and have its positive effect. For sun protection creams to be effective, it is recommended to apply them 20 minutes before sunbathing, and reapply them as recommended, usually every 2 hours. But be careful, using these drugs does not mean that you can stay under the sun indefinitely. It was this mistake that at one time led to a sharp increase in the incidence of melanoma - due to the absence of obvious sunburn thanks to the protective cream, some tanned for too long.
Scientists have discovered that in order for the body to produce the amount of vitamin D it needs, it is enough to “show the sun” to the face and hands for 10-15 minutes a day.
Specialists at the EMC Dermatovenereology and Allergology-Immunology Clinic will be happy to give detailed recommendations on sun protection for you and your entire family.
