People in West Virginia may know someone with an inflammatory bowel disease and how difficult it can be for them to work. Whether it is a flare up of the condition or chronic, long-lasting pain, these diseases may require a West Virginian to apply for disability benefits. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are two of the more common inflammatory bowel conditions that inflict terrible, disabling symptoms on those who suffer from them. An analysis of data from a research study indicates that more exposure to sunlight may help prevent these conditions.

One such study looked at data collected since the 1970s. It appears to show that patients who were in the northern area of the United States, as opposed to the southern states, had a greater incidence of these conditions, and researchers believe it has something to do with sun exposure. The southern residents had a 52 percent lower incidence of Crohn's disease developed by age 30, as well as a 38 percent lower incidence of ulcerative colitis.