Those who binge-watch TV have been warned: watching TV is dangerous for you. Spending too much time as a couch potato could heighten the risk fo death from a pulmonary blood clot, experts warn.
A pulmonary embolism usually begins as a clot in the pelvis or leg and happens because of inactivity and lowered blood flow. The clot sometimes travels to the lung and then it becomes a serious health threat.
The recent study took into consideration over 86,000 Japanese people, with ages ranging from 40 to 70. They were evaluated on the basis of how many hours they watched television for and then their behavior was recorded over 19 years. 59 participants in the study died from a pulmonary embolism, in that period of time.
Those who watched TV more than 2,5 hours daily had a risk of death increased by 70 percent. Those who watched over 5 hours a day added an extra 40 percent to the death chances from a pulmonary embolism.
Dr. Toru Shirakawa, the study author, believes that these days, with increased video streaming online, the binge –watchers view more than one episode in one sitting. And their philosophy is gaining popularity, turning into a habit.
However, lung clots occur much rarer in Japan than in Western countries. Sadly, more and more Japanese people have inactive lifestyles, which increase their health risks.
Here are the symptoms of a lung clot: chest pains, and shortness of breath. These symptoms are tricky, as they can happen with other conditions, too. For making an adequate diagnosis, imaging scans are required, and these are not available in all hospitals.
There are some ways to keep your risk of pulmonary embolism at bay:
After the first hour of watching TV, stretch, walk or just alternatively stretch and relax your leg muscles for a couple of minutes.
Hydrating yourself may also help. This study was made before the advent of tablets and smartphones, so new research is needed to show how these developments affect associated health risks.
Do you watch a lot of Tvs? Do you think it affects your state of health? If so, tell us what you think about this article, by leaving a comment below. Thanks!
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