Many of us see no harm in watching TV. After all, it is a way to relax, right?
Well, if you think watching TV too many hours every day is good for your mind and health, then you thought wrong.
As it turns out, watching too much TV can lead to the possibility of developing Alzheimer and heart disease!
What Is Alzheimer?
Well, Alzheimer is a type of dementia that causes problems with the memory, behavior, and thinking. This is a progressive disease that worsens over the years as the body degenerates, lowering the intellectual abilities and memory. The cure for this disease is yet to be found, a feat that can put a lot of stress on the patients, as well as their relatives. Some of the most common symptoms associated with the disease are difficulty in remembering new things, reduced physical activity and overall health of a patient.
Study Finds Links between Watching Too Much TV and Getting Alzheimer
Alzheimer is usually common among old people from the age of 65, but lately, people as young as 40 to 50 have been diagnosed with it. What’s even shocking is that recent studies show that early onset Alzheimer can be caused and/or triggered by lifestyle choices.
Now, a study recently completed at the Northern California Institute for Research and Education in San Francisco is the latest of those studies that show how much you need to watch your lifestyle if you are to reduce your risk of getting the disease. The 25-year-long study looked to find out any links between Alzheimer and factors like lifestyle and cognitive performance, and the results were shocking. It was found that those people in the middle age who watched four or more hours of TV daily and engaged in a minimal physical activity, performed the worst in tests measuring cognitive performance. This makes the chances of developing dementia early in life a reality. So, if you have that habit of watching too much TV, then you better take some notes.
How is watching TV related to Alzheimer?
Well, too much television turns you into some sort of a ‘couch potato’. Sitting in front of the television all day, without going out to interact with the people and nature, is believed to be a contributing factor to Alzheimer. Think of it this way, you sit there with your remote and other than using your remote, you aren’t doing anything physical or anything that engages your brain. This can also lead to loneliness, another condition believed to be related to Alzheimer.
Not convinced yet? As a matter of fact, the effects of too much TV goes beyond your brain as studies have also shown that it can increase the chances of developing heart complications. This is according to a study published in the in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2014, which found that more than 3 hours of watching TV daily can double the chances of developing heart diseases.
There is a way out.
As usual, prevention is always better than cure so they say. So, the best way out is to change your way of life. Simple things like engaging in physical activities such as walking, jogging, and hiking can be great substitutes to staying glued to your TV for hours. You could also opt for activities that stimulate the mind, such as crosswords or painting, depending on your interests. The bottom line is you just have to try and stay away from too much TV!
References:
source and courtesy: lifeadvancer.com