talk on cell phone 30 or more minutes a week is associated with a 12% increase in the risk of hypertension compared to shorter conversations, though the research authors note that more studies are needed to confirm the findings.
Research, which publishes European Heart Journal and sign a Chinese team, analyzed data from more than 212,000 people, aged 37 to 73, no high blood pressure and of which 88% define themselves as mobile users. The median follow-up was twelve years.
“What is important for heart health is the number of minutes people spend talking on cell phones; more minutes mean more risk,” according to study leader Xianhui Qin, of South China Medical University, quoted by the European Society of Cardiology.
The study results indicate that “mobile phone use to make or receive calls was significantly associated increased risk of new onset of hypertensionespecially among high-frequency users.”
Cell phones emit low levels of radio frequency energy, which have been linked to increases in blood pressure after short-term exposure, but previous studies on this topic have been inconsistent, perhaps because they included all uses of the phone, not just the calls. .
Information on cell phone use was collected through a self-reported questionnaire by participants at the start of the study, which included years of use, hours per week, and use of a speakerphone/speakerphone.
During the years of follow-up, 7% of participants developed hypertension and mobile users had a 7% higher risk of hypertension than non-users. Those who talked on their cell phones for 30 minutes or more a week were 12 percent more likely to have new-onset hypertension than those who talked for less than half an hour. The results were similar for women and men.
Compared with participants who spent less than 5 minutes per week making or receiving calls, weekly usage time of 30-59 minutes, 1-3 hours, 4-6 hours, and more than 6 hours was associated with an increase in risk of hypertension of 8%, 13%, 16% and 25%, respectively.
Among cell phone users, years of use and use of a speakerphone/speakerphone device were not significantly associated with the development of hypertension.
The analyzed results were adjusted for values such as age, gender, body mass index, race, education, or use of cholesterol and glucose medications.
The researchers also looked at whether the participants had any genetic risk using data from the UK Biobank.
The likelihood of developing high blood pressure was higher in people with high genetic risk who spend at least 30 minutes a week talking on their cell phones.
That group had 33% more likely to have hypertension compared to people with low genetic risk who spent less than 30 minutes a week on the phone.
The findings suggest that talking on a cell phone “may not affect the risk of developing high blood pressure as long as weekly calling time is kept below half an hour,” Qin said.
The researcher added that “more research is needed to replicate the findings, but until then it seems prudent.” minimize mobile calls to preserve heart health“.
Nearly three-quarters of the world’s population over the age of 10 own a mobile phone, according to data from the International Telecommunication Union, while around 1.3 billion adults aged 30-79 suffer from hypertension, according to the World Organization of health (WHO).
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Source: Clarin
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