Doctors say bad weather is making Scots ill

SCOTLAND’S dreary weather is bad for your health and is to blame for a growing number of cases of cancer, heart disease and multiple sclerosis, doctors say.

The lack of sunlight in Scotland is leading to a rise in the number of people with a lack of vitamin D, which plays a crucial role in the growth of human cells.

The British Medical Association yesterday passed a motion calling for the introduction of a national programme of Vitamin D supplements, and some doctors are now calling for it to be added to everyday foods such as milk and margarine.

People make 90 per cent of their vitamin D naturally from sunlight exposure on their skin, and the dull weather in Scotland means Scots are more likely to suffer from a deficiency than people elsewhere in the UK.

Dr Nicola Balch, an associate specialist in child health, said: “People need just 20 to 30 minutes of sun three or four times a week to ensure they get enough vitamin D, but obviously with our weather it can be impossible to get this.

“Many people know this can cause weaker bones, but what they don’t know is a lack of vitamin D has been linked to lung and bowel cancer, coronary heart disease and MS. The vitamin helps modulate cell growth and plays an important role in the immune system.

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