1 June 2019 | New Scientist | 3AH, THE great indoors! Many of us
treasure the time we spend in its narrow,
enclosed spaces. The warming glow of
screen light on our faces, the refreshing
breeze of the air conditioning unit
ruffling our hair.
Perhaps not. Those of us in developed
countries typically spend a whopping
90 per cent of our lives inside – far more
time than even 50 years ago. That’s not
good for our health. Less sunshine on
our skin is fuelling an epidemic of
vitamin D deficiency, which is associated
with problems ranging from an increased
chance of cardiovascular disease and
autoimmune disorders to weaker bones
and teeth.
And that isn't the half of it (see page
34). It turns out that getting too little
daylight results in poorer quality sleep,
a greater risk of depression and a rangeof other woes. Conversely, electric
lighting and the glow of always-active
screens means the dark isn’t as dark
as it used to be. We are living in a kind
of perpetual dusk, flattening out the
circadian rhythms that help us function.
The good news is that we can do
something about it. Most obviously,
we can get out more. Even half an hour
outside in the mornings or a short
walk at lunch makes a big difference.
Increased exposure to daylight canaid recovery from injury or illness, be
an effective treatment for some forms
of depression and even cancel out the
sleep-disrupting effects of staring at
screens emitting blue light.
Some researchers are now calling
for access to daylight to become a
fundamental right in international
development goals, alongside access
to shelter, clean water and medical
care. Several countries and regulatory
agencies have started to introduce
standards requiring buildings to
allow more daylight to penetrate.
At the individual level, doctors have
even started to prescribe time outside.
Employers and schools, too, should
see it as yet another reason to ensure
their charges get proper breaks. With
the weight of evidence now out there,
it is time for all of us to see the light. ❚Light relief
Getting more sunlight is a simple health win for everyone
The leader
Not spending
enough time
outside is linked
to all sorts of
problemsAL
EX
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