In today’s world, smartphones have become an extension of ourselves, but could this constant connectivity with our smartphones hurt our cardiovascular health? Experts are raising concerns about how smartphone use may affect our hearts. In an intriguing and captivating discussion on Zee business TV, Dr. Anurag Mehrotra, a leading cardiologist, joined by Dr. Arvind Otta, a psychologist and public health expert Dr. Samir Bhatti explores how excessive smartphone use can be linked to the risk of heart disease.
Panel Discussion
A study published in the Canadian journal of Cardiology, which involved over 4 million people found that people who spend more than half an hour on their phones per day tend to have a higher chance of developing cardiovascular problems.
Now you might be asking, how can a smartphone be linked to heart diseases? This connection is apparent from several factors. Dr Anurag Mehrotra delineates how using a smartphone tends to increase our heart rate even when we are sitting still. This is because our brain is often engaged, processing information and responding to stimuli. Continuous phone usage keeps the nervous system activated, increasing heart rate and affecting the neuroendocrine system, which impacts heart function.
Dr. Mehrotra also highlights how sleep deprivation can also be a factor contributing to cardiovascular problems. The blue light emitted from smartphones interferes with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Using smartphones before bed makes it harder to fall asleep and worsens sleep quality. Prolonged sleep deprivation can harm the heart. It can lead to problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, all of which can strain our heart functions.
Furthermore, Dr. Arvind Otta highlights how smartphone use can impact our health. Sleep, a crucial aspect of our lives, is often sacrificed for more screen time. This can be particularly dangerous. Increased mobile phone usage for recreational purposes can lead to reduced physical activity and disrupted sleep. Dr. Arvind Otta stressed the fact that one should avoid using any screens, especially mobile phones, at least an hour before sleep. Using a phone triggers the release of neurochemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and glucocorticoids, which can disrupt sleep. This disruption can lead to an ineffective sleep cycle.
Moreover, when mobile phone usage becomes excessive, creativity diminishes, and people tend to drift away from creative activities. Hobbies often get neglected as a result. Consequently, this leads to various issues such as headaches, migraines, weight gain (a common problem), and high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease. From a psychological standpoint, there is a rise in problems like increased irritation, stress, depression, and anxiety. As per many studies, prolonged stress, depression, and anxiety negatively impact heart health1. Further studies have shown that excessive early-stage mobile phone usage, especially during youth, combined with a lack of physical activity and the issues discussed, significantly increases the chances of both mental and physical health problems2.
This continuous exposure to information often increases the levels of cortisol in our body. As chronic stress is most often related to heart diseases, elevated cortisol levels can increase inflammation, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Apart from that, it also tends to affect our sleep patterns and promote unhealthy behaviour such as smoking or overeating, and all of these factors together tend to contribute to the higher likelihood of experiencing cardiovascular problems.
Lastly, Dr. Samir Bhatti suggests that smartphone use often leads to a sedentary lifestyle. This means sitting for a long period without any breaks or physical activities. A sedentary lifestyle is a well-documented risk factor for heart disease, hence increasing our likelihood of cardiovascular problems. Apart from this, there is ongoing research about the potential health effects of the electromagnetic radiation emitted from smartphones, and some studies have been able to suggest that there might be a possible link between these electromagnetic radiation and heart problems.
However, continued research is required to confirm these findings. While some research is necessary to fully understand and explain the relationship between smartphone use and heart diseases. The available research and evidence suggest that excessive smartphone use can contribute to heart disease.
Tips for Healthy Smartphone Use
There are some very simple tips that you can utilise in order to limit your smartphone use which can potentially protect you from various risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
- Set time limits: You can decide how much time you spend on your phone each day and stick to it.
- Take breaks: Get up every 30 minutes or so, and move around when you’re using a smartphone. Another way is it 20-20-20 rule, where you can take a break from looking at screen every 20 minutes and focus on some object, 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Phone usage in bed: Avoid using your phone in bed or just before you sleep as it can make it difficult for you to fall asleep and affect your quality of sleep
- Manage your stress: Find healthy ways to manage your stress, such as exercise, yoga or meditation
These factors can help you to engage in more healthy usage of smartphones and mitigate the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. While smartphones have become increasingly an integral and important part of our lives, the key to protecting our hearts is striking a balance. As suggested by Dr. Arvind Otta, it’s best to avoid screens, especially phones, an hour before sleep. By setting limits, taking regular breaks, maintaining stress and avoiding phone use before bed, you can still maintain a healthy relationship and a healthy level of usage on your smartphone without sacrificing your cardiovascular well-being. Remember that your phone is a tool, let it serve you and not strain your heart or overpower you.
