Teens Who Spend More Hours On Internet Use Are At Risk For Elevated Blood Pressure, Says Medical Researchers In Detroit
A recent study published in The Journal of School Nursing revealed that teenagers who spend more hours on the Internet are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
According to the experts at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, of the 134 teen subjects who engage on Internet use for at least 14 hours a week, 26 were found to have elevated blood pressure, noted Yahoo Tech Oct. 7.
On Oct. 6, Tech Crunch also noted that the study discovered students spend 15 hours on the Internet on the average, with 39 percent of teenage girls being heavy users as compared to the 43 percent of teenage boys.
Aside from other scientific studies on the relation of prolonged Internet use to health risks such as obesity, depression, anxiety and social isolation, its link to high blood pressure is believed to be the first study conducted by experts.
"Using the Internet is part of our daily life but it shouldn't consume us," advised the study's lead author Andrea Cassidy-Bushrow. "In our study, teens considered heavy Internet users were on the Internet an average of 25 hours a week.
Cassidy-Bushrow emphasized the need for teens to go on regular breaks from their electronic devices and to engage in physical activities instead, also encouraging parents and guardians to limit the use of Internet at home.
"Two hours a day, five days a week is good rule of thumb," she noted.
The researchers claim that the study is vital in the monitoring of the students' health by parents and guardians and even the school nurses who conduct annual health screenings. Students with elevated blood pressure are advised to return for a follow-visit in order to determine necessary interventions.
The Voice of America reported Oct. 8 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed 70 million, or 29 percent, of adults in the U.S. have elevated blood pressure, with only half of them taking interventions to manage the condition.
The U.S. spends approximately $46 billion every year for high blood pressure, estimated CDC.
