Private MD News

Too much TV may increase cardiovascular risk factors

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Individuals who watch long hours of television may benefit from blood pressure and cholesterol testing. A new study published in the American Journal of the American College of Cardiology has found that excessive TV watching increases the risk of heart disease.

After examining more than 4,500 participants, a team of researchers from the University College of London found that, compared to those who spend less than two hours per day on screen-based entertainment like watching TV or playing videogames, those who spend more than four hours on these activities are more than twice as likely to suffer a cardiac event that results in death or hospitalization.

"It is all a matter of habit. Many of us have learned to go back home, turn the TV set on and sit down for several hours - it's convenient and easy to do. But doing so is bad for the heart and our health in general," said Dr. Emmanuel Stamatakis, who headed the investigation.

He added that even individuals who get plenty of exercise in between long periods of watching TV may still be at an elevated risk of experiencing a heart attack.