A recent study indicates that there is a strong link between the amount of time someone spends watching television or using a computer and their risk of suffering from a stroke.
According to research done by the American Heart Association, people that spend eight hours a day or more watching television, sitting in front of a computer, or otherwise being sedentary are at a higher risk of having a stroke later in life than those that live a more active lifestyle. This is a huge number of people, especially because the average American spends much more than eight hours a day consuming electronic media.
You might think that this is a problem primarily for younger folk because of the connection to smartphones that many have. But this study found that it was those ages 50 to 64 that spent the most amount of time consuming media. This includes smartphone usage, but also incorporates TV and computer use. The average individual in this group spent about 10.5 hours per day consuming media in a sedentary manner. Unfortunately, as media becomes more accessible to the average person, we’ve been seeing this number go up consistently. It’s leading to an increase in heart health issues, especially as this 50 to 64 group becomes older and starts to have other health issues, too.
The research team published their findings in the journal, Stroke.
For some of us, spending time seated in front of a computer working is inevitable. I often have days where I am in front of my computer for six hours or more doing office work or writing up reports. If you’re in this situation, taking frequent breaks, exercising more, and being more conscious of your health is important. Working with a doctor can help you to be more aware of what you need to work on.
Really, this is a habit that needs to be addressed early on in life. The research looked at the things that people that were younger than 60 years old did, and how it impacted them as they progressed through their senior years. It’s a lot easier to create healthy habits at a young age than it is an old one. And the earlier we start adopting these healthy habits, the more likely we are to keep higher levels of health as we age.
But even though it’s harder for an older person to adopt a healthier lifestyle and see the benefits of doing so, it’s certainly not impossible. Take smoking, for example. Even an elderly person can see and feel the physical benefits of quitting smoking within a few days of quitting. This isn’t a guarantee that all health problems will just disappear, but it does slightly tilt the odds back in the individual’s favor. Lots of little things like this can add up over time and help someone to live a healthier, happier quality of life.
A heart attack or stroke can be detrimental to someone’s quality of life. They might need a lot more help getting through the day safely. Just keep in mind that you have resources (like us) on your side that can help your family to manage these new challenges.
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