A British news agency has reported that a recent study conducted by Southern Medical University (SWNS) in Guangzhou, China, has found that using a mobile phone for even a brief period of time can increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure. According to the researchers, high blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. The study's findings were published on May 5, 2023 in the European Heart Journal - Digital Health, which is a publication of the European Society of Cardiology.
A recent report has indicated that individuals who talk on their mobile phones, even if it is for brief periods, are at a higher risk of developing hypertension. According to the report, people who spent as little as 30 minutes per week talking on their mobile phones, even when using hands-free devices, had a 12% increased risk of developing high blood pressure. Furthermore, those who spent six hours per week on their mobile phones had a 25% increased risk.
The study was conducted by the SWNS team and analyzed data from the UK Biobank, a database that contains health and genetic information on 500,000 British individuals. The study included a sample of 212,046 adults aged between 37 and 73 years who did not have hypertension at the outset, and they were monitored for an average of 12 years.
The researchers found that participants who used mobile phones for more than 30 minutes per week had an increased risk of hypertension. The risk of hypertension increased by 8% for those who used their phones for 30 to 59 minutes per week, 13% for those who used them for 1 to 3 hours per week, 16% for those who used them for 4 to 6 hours per week, and 25% for those who used them for over 6 hours per week.
Moreover, individuals with a high genetic risk who spent at least 30 minutes per week talking on their mobile phones were 33% more likely to develop high blood pressure. The study reported that overall, mobile phone users had a 7% higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared to non-users.
Lead author of the study, Professor Xianhui Qin, stated that the number of minutes people spend talking on their mobile phones is a significant factor for heart health, and more minutes of usage mean a greater risk. Additionally, years of use or the use of hands-free devices did not affect the likelihood of developing high blood pressure. Professor Qin also noted that the study's findings suggest that talking on a mobile phone may not affect the risk of developing high blood pressure as long as weekly call time is kept below half an hour. Nonetheless, he recommended that people keep mobile phone calls to a minimum to preserve heart health until more research is conducted to replicate the results.
