Prolonged TV Time Linked to Pulmonary Embolism

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  1. How much time a day do you spend watching non-stop TV?

    • 3
      Less than 2.5 hours
    • 0
      2.5 to 5 hours
    • 1
      I seldom watch TV

4 members have participated

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

According to a new study based on data collected for 19 years, the more television you watch, the greater your risk for a pulmonary embolism.

After adjusting for other factors, they found that compared with watching TV less than two and a half hours a day, watching for two and a half to five hours increased the risk for a fatal clot by 70 percent, and watching more than five hours increased the risk by 250 percent. For each extra two hours of watching, the risk of death rose 40 percent. The effect was independent of physical exercise.

To lessen the risks associated with prolonged sitting in front of the television, they recommend to take a break, stand up, walk around, and drink plenty of water. Although these are pretty much common sense to those in health care, it might be worthwhile passing on to your couch potato relatives, friends, and patients.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Can't vote twice. So.... For the last several years I watched tv seldomly. Over the last few weeks, I've intentionally increased my tv time, for personal reasons. Sometimes it's good to just sit down.

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Specializes in Critical care.

My husband should have been dead 20years ago. I dont believe it

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I watch tv at night, I have never counted the number of times I get up during any show but I bet I get up at least 2-3 times an hour for various reasons. I also change my position frequently just ? because?

i wonder if the people in the study don't get up or move much? Sitting in a recliner chair with everything they might need right next to them and a family member at their beck and call for more food, drink, etc? (Hopefully NOT a urinal right next to them!)

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

One of those things an activity tracker helps me with. It gives me extra celebrations if I achieve at least 250 steps per hour. I spend much of my day sitting at a desk studying. Having an excuse to get up and walk a few minutes is not only good for me physically, it forces me to take a quick mental breather.

But I do have years of bad couch potato habits, hoping they are reversible!!

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