New Delhi, Jan 12 (NationPress) In today's digital age, where watching short videos or reels on social media platforms is woven into the everyday lives of young and middle-aged individuals, a recent study indicates that this addiction could potentially lead to high blood pressure.
The research, carried out by scholars at The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University in China, sought to investigate the relationship between the duration of screen time spent on short videos at night and the occurrence of essential hypertension among younger and middle-aged demographics.
The research team examined data from 4,318 individuals in the specified age groups, who provided information on their screen time habits at bedtime and also underwent medical assessments between January 2023 and September 2023.
They discovered that increased screen time dedicated to watching short videos at night was linked with a higher prevalence of hypertension.
According to the researchers, “The screen time dedicated to watching short videos at night was significantly correlated with essential hypertension in young and middle-aged individuals,” as stated in their paper published in the journal BMC Public Health.
The researchers emphasized the need for “strict regulation of screen time spent on short videos before sleep.”
Additionally, they recommended “monitoring body weight, blood lipids, blood glucose, and uric acid levels, along with improving unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as a high-sodium diet,” which could mitigate the risk of hypertension.
Prior studies have indicated that excessive mobile phone usage, particularly over 30 minutes per week, can elevate the risk of hypertension.
This study, featured in the European Heart Journal – Digital Health, a publication of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), suggests that the low levels of radiofrequency energy emitted from mobile devices may be associated with rising blood pressure.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.3 billion adults aged 30 to 79 years globally suffer from high blood pressure, which is a significant risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and a primary cause of premature mortality.
