TV-SNACKING-CHRONIC

Binge-watching television and Chronic health problems

Binge-watching also called binge-viewing or marathon-viewing is the practice of watching television for a long time span, usually a single television show. According to researchers, viewing television between two to six episodes of the same TV show in one sitting is binge-watching. If your TV viewing habits are excessive, you are putting yourself at greater risk of suffering from a life-altering condition. Binge-watching television and Chronic health problems are interrelated. It may actually be an indication of serious health conditions.

Binge-watching and Pseudo-addiction

Our brain secrets dopamine when engaged in an activity that’s enjoyable like watching a favorite show. When dopamine levels are up, it creates the motivation for us to proactively perform actions that are essential in life. It creates a feeling of pleasure. The same thing happens in binge-watching.

Binge-watching gives a good feel to many. They kept on enjoying the binge-watching as there is dopamine craving. Even there is pseudo-addiction to the favorite shows as like drugs. The reel life characters intrigue our real-life experiences. We try to correlate the characters with our own life events.

Binge-watching and Mental Health

Watching television is a passive activity. It has been suggested that binge-watching is an addictive behavior. Many times people cannot turn off television even if they had other important tasks to complete. Binge-watchers reports higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than those who were not binge-watchers, according to the study by the University of Toledo.

Binge-watchers feel sad once the favorite show gets over. For some time, they experience a sense of loss. This situational depression can be harmful if occurred regularly. Virtual relations are more important than the human touch. Gradually they get distant and isolate themselves from society. Many times, television has an adverse impact on viewers as it displays a lot of violence, gossips, and other erotic things. They got trapped in negative emotions and feel lonely. Problems with self-control are also associated with binge-watchers.

Binge-watching and Bowel Cancer in Men

Binge-watching for more than four hours a day could increase the risk of bowel cancer, scientists from Imperial College London. Bowel cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in UK men. The study further figured out that, men who invested less energy before the TV were additionally more averse to create entrail growth further down the road.

Also, Binge-watching along with smoking, drinking and snacking more, can increase the risk of bowel cancer. Binge-watching is associated with more eating and weight gain. Excess body fat may influence the blood levels of hormones and other chemicals which affect the way our cells grow and can increase bowel cancer risk. Ironically, men are more prone to the risk than women. The research on colon malignancy hazard is going further to answer the questions this study has raised. (Article Reference: Tech Explorist)

Binge-watching and Chronic conditions

Being sedentary is also associated with many chronic complications like overweight, hypertension, and Diabetes. Greater exposure to junk food and snacking may increase the chances of becoming obese. Obesity may increase the risk of diabetes highly. Physical inactivity, more snacking, smoking, drinking and loneliness are also associated with hypertension and other heart diseases.

According to study, every additional hour per day of TV time is associated with 12% of the increased risk of inflammatory-related death in the overall population. And an 18% increase in the people who had never smoked. The risks were no longer present after adjusting for leisure-time physical activity.

To Emphasize

As can be seen, the best way to tune out the world is to turn on the television. There is an excitement we feel once we get bored. Discussing related issues while watching television brings a sense of belonging to the community. In short, setting time for television, the type of shows and information you want to absorb is the key to avoid negative repercussions of binge-watching.

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