Contents:
- Medical Video: What Does the Color of My Phlegm Means? Yellow, Brown, Green & More Revealed The Cause of Phlegm.
- What is pulmonary embolism?
- Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism
- It has been proven by research
- Why do people who like watching television all day risk more?
Medical Video: What Does the Color of My Phlegm Means? Yellow, Brown, Green & More Revealed The Cause of Phlegm.
Watching TV, which is mostly only done while lying down or sitting relaxed on the couch, turns out to be a master weapon for your health.A study from the journal American Heart Association Circulation reported that watching TV over time can cause pulmonary embolism, which can lead to death. Why, what is the connection between watching TV and lung health? See the explanation below.
What is pulmonary embolism?
Pulmonary embolism is a condition that occurs when there is a blood clot that blocks blood vessels in the lungs. In most cases, pulmonary embolism is caused by clots of frozen blood flowing into the lungs from the legs, or it can be from other body parts such as the pelvis, arms, or heart (deep vein thrombosis).
Blood clots from other parts of the body can be released and then drift to follow the blood flow back until they finally stop in one of the vessels in the lungs. Finally, the blood flow to the lungs is blocked like the flow of water clogged in a water pipe.
This is arguably dangerous, because it can cause death. According to data from Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States, the number of people with pulmonary embolism in the US reaches 200,000 people each year, and nearly one third are killed.
Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism can generally be characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath or other respiratory problems such as chest pain, coughing, coughing up bleeding or irregular heartbeat. In addition there may be signs of venous thrombosis, namely blood clots that originate from blood vessels in the body.
Usually this happens in the form of swollen feet or along the blood vessels in the legs, pain or pain in the legs, or a warm feeling that spreads on the legs. Also pay attention to signs such as discoloration of the affected foot.
It has been proven by research
A study in Japan, entitled "Watching Television and Risk of Mortality From Pulmonary Embolism Among Japanese Men and Women" examined 86,024 participants consisting of 36,006 men and 50,018 women. This research actually began in the late 1980s in 45 regions of Japan involving 110,585 participants aged 40 to 79 years.
Participants were asked to spend hours on average watching television for hours per day and then grouped into three groups. The first group consisted of participants who watched TV for less than 2.5 hours. The second group watched TV more than 2.5 hours. Whereas the last group spent more than 5 hours watching TV.
This study concluded that deaths from pulmonary embolism were experienced by study participants who watched TV more than 2.5 hours per day. Actually television itself is not the source of the problem. The habit of watching TV is what can trigger this disease.
Why do people who like watching television all day risk more?
Sitting for hours while watching TV makes the blood flow obstructed in the lower part of the body. This causes blood to gather around the ankle and cause swelling to varicose veins, which then leads to blood clots. When the blood settles and finally freezes, these clots can be released and flow back to the heart, then enter the pulmonary vessels.
Pulmonary embolism can be fatal if you don't get medical help as soon as possible. If large enough, blood clots can cause chest pain and difficulty breathing. Large clots can cause lung damage, and result in heart failure. This condition can quickly lead to death.
To reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism, some experts advise you to take a wake-up call at least once every hour while watching TV. Whether it's for taking a drink, doing housework, or light stretching.However, at least it is advisable to stand up and stretch your legs every 15 or 20 minutes when watching television.
On the other hand, other risk factors also play a role in causing pulmonary embolism. These factors include obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking habits. Therefore, besides starting to control your TV viewing habits, don't forget to start implementing a healthy lifestyle.
