Will the Solar Eclipse Impact Your Health? Here's What NASA Says

The solar eclipse is right around the corner, as the moon will pass in between the Earth and the sun on Monday, April 8. If you have plans for viewing the eclipse, we’re right with you: the path of totality will pass right through North America, and you don’t want to miss it.

As the phenomenon is nearing, you may be curious about how it can impact aspects of your life—including your physical and mental health. Lucky for us, NASA has some answers. If you’re worried about what to eat, drink or do in general during the day of the eclipse, read on to ease your fears.

Will the Solar Eclipse Affect Your Health?

There are many myths that spiral out of control, and that includes theories surrounding how the solar eclipse impacts our bodies, food and more. 

There is one theory that the eclipse will poison any food prepared during the event—don’t worry, this is untrue. According to NASA in a 2017 post, the misconception goes that harmful solar rays will produce radiation that could “harm your food.” The agency explains that all food—whether prepared or in your pantry—is entirely safe to eat after the eclipse. 

For years, NASA has been shutting claims like this down, and myths like “pregnant people should not watch an eclipse” and “your birthday being close to a solar eclipse is a sign of bad health” are simply not true. The organization wants you to know that, generally speaking, you shouldn’t worry about your health. 

“There is no physical relationship between a total solar eclipse and your health, any more than there is a relationship between your health and a new moon,” NASA says.

Physically, the only concern should be your eyes. You won’t go blind from looking at the eclipse, but it can cause retinal damage. Here’s what NASA advises you to do before you stare at the sky on Monday.

If you’re in an area where you’re viewing a partial eclipse, it is recommended to view the event through safe solar viewing glasses or a safe handheld solar viewer. Solar glasses are not the same as sunglasses, as they are “thousands of times darker” than normal sunglasses, according to NASA. 

But if you will be in the line of totality (see the official map here), you may be able to look at the eclipse more directly as long as you have solar glasses or a solar viewer on standby.

“You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright face—during the brief and spectacular period known as totality,” NASA notes in their recent eye safety guide. “As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun.”

What Is Eclipse Sickness?

Because of the consistent theories and worries surrounding the eclipse, you may feel stressed or anxious leading up to, during and after the eclipse. That’s totally normal, and there’s even a name for it: eclipse sickness.

While many deem eclipse sickness (also known as “eclipse anxiety”) to be the body’s response caused by the eclipse itself, there is no research backing this claim. If you catch yourself feeling a wave of anxiety, stress or fatigue on Monday, there are ways to manage your symptoms. Take the day easy, incorporate simple movement like a walk into your routine and try to get a good night’s sleep. Take a look at some of our favorite snacks packed with melatonin, omega-3s and magnesium to help you rest.

The Bottom Line

Will the solar eclipse impact your health? With proper precaution, you, your eyes and your overall well-being will be OK. The conspiracy theories surrounding the event may be overwhelming, so be sure to take some deep breaths and prioritize your health if you’re starting to feel anxious during the event. The next solar eclipse crossing the United States won’t be until 2044, so make this one count if you can!