Watching too much TV raises risk for fatal blood clots aka pulmonary embolism

Researchers from Osaka University in Japan have directly linked long periods of watching television with pulmonary embolism, a vascular-lung condition that can be fatal at times.

According to the Japanese researchers, staying immobile in front of the television for more than five hours a day could increase the risk of developing fatal blood clots six-fold, reports the New York Daily News.

For people between the ages of 40 and 59 the risk of developing pulmonary embolism is even higher, since they tend to watch television more often and were more immobile.

The death of gamers, who spend hours upon hours in front of the computer, has been linked to pulmonary embolism as well. However, the study has not proven if prolonged use of smartphones could also cause fatal blood clots.

To prevent pulmonary embolism, or any of its related maladies, the Japanese researchers advise people to take breaks in between movie or TV series marathons. They recommend walking around a bit, stretching your legs, and staying hydrated by drinking water.

"Pulmonary embolism is a serious, sometimes fatal, lung-related vascular disease characterized by sudden onset of symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing," explained Mr. Toru Shirakawa, public health research fellow in the Department of Social Medicine at Osaka University.

"The disease is caused by obstruction of the pulmonary arteries by blood clots generally formed in the leg vessels. Risk factors include cancer, prolonged bed rest or sitting, and oral contraceptive use," said Shriakawa.

Mayo Clinic clarifies that a pulmonary embolism occurs when a blockage, usually a blood clot, travels to the lungs. More specifically, the medical malady occurs in the pulmonary vein, which connects the heart from the lungs, states News Grio.

Mr. Shirakawa also explained that pulmonary embolism was first seen during the World War II in London, when people frequently used air raid shelters.

As of late, pulmonary embolism has been found to cause "economy class syndrome," which occurs when people spend long periods of time in economy class during a flight, Mr. Shirakawa told the European Society of Cardiology.

For the study, researchers from Osaka University observed and questioned over 80,000 participants ranging from ages 40 to 79. The study was conducted for about 18 years from 1988 to 2009.

There were three groups in the study. The first group watched television less than 2.5 hours a day, while the second watched between 2.5 to 4.9 hours of TV everyday. The third group watched 5 or more hours of TV daily.

The mortality rate for pulmonary embolism was measured from the death certificates of the participants.