Many people tend to keep TVs in the bedroom on all night. Although this practice has become very common, many studies have proven that it is harmful to health.
We all know that watching TV for long hours can ruin our sleep in various ways, including harming cardiovascular function and increasing insulin resistance, but scientists in China have discovered another unexpected reason for the damage caused by watching TV for a long time.
The study says that "watching television for long hours can make you need to urinate at night."
A team from Wenzhou Medical University found that individuals who spent more than five hours watching TV or videos during the day were almost 50% more likely to have to go to the bathroom to urinate at night.
The team described this association as "interesting", but were unable to determine the exact relationship between television and urination.
However, they point out that watching too much TV is an unhealthy habit that can lead to problems, such as obesity and diabetes, both of which are proven risk factors for nocturia.
In addition, they noted that television viewing usually coincides with beverage consumption, leading to increased fluid intake.
The study, published in the journal Neurology Urodynamics, followed about 13,294 participants from the United States who were 20 years or older between 2011 and 2016.
About a third said they experienced nocturia, which was determined by asking how many times they went to the bathroom at night. From zero to five or more.
When combining these results with viewing habits, the data showed that those who watched TV or videos for five hours a day or more were 48% more likely to have frequent urination during the night, even when other factors, such as weight, were controlled.
“As individuals increasingly engage in screen-based activities, a comprehensive understanding of the impact of prolonged television and/or video time on nocturia patterns is critical for both healthcare professionals and public health practitioners,” the team wrote.
The team focused only on the time participants spent in front of the television, and not on the time spent in front of computer screens, for example.
Excessive TV watching not only disrupts sleep but may also contribute to nighttime urination, as per a study from China. Prioritize health by limiting screen time.
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