Stop Watching Reels At Bedtime! New Study Says It's Linked To Hypertension In Young And Middle-Aged People

Researchers aimed to explore the correlation between the screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and essential hypertension among young and middle-aged people.

Studies have shown that long screen time is a risk factor for cardiovascular complication.

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Is there an association between the screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and essential hypertension in young and middle-aged people? A cross-sectional study undertaken by the Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University says there is. The researchers published their findings in the British Medical Journal and claimed that the aim of the study was to explore the correlation between the screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and essential hypertension among young and middle-aged people.

This study included 4,318 young and middle-aged people who underwent medical examinations at Hengshui People’s Hospital between January 2023 and September 2023. The collected data, including self-reported screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and general information, were partitioned into a training set and a test set, with the former being divided into hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups. R programming language was used for statistical analysis and processing.

The researchers constructed a nomogram prediction model for assessing the probability of developing essential hypertension for these age groups. They reached a conclusion that the screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime was significantly associated with essential hypertension in young and middle-aged people, and the nomogram was a good predictor of the risk of essential hypertension among young and middle-aged people.

With the rapid development of the short video industry, watching short videos is a new lifestyle for people, and studies have shown that the screen time spent on television and online games is a risk factor for cardiovascular complication. A poor lifestyle is an important factor associated with the essential hypertension onset among young and middle-aged individuals.

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What Is Essential Hypertension?

Cleveland Clinic defines ‘Essential Hypertension’ (also known as primary hypertension) as a type of high blood pressure that develops gradually over time and usually has no identifiable cause. It's the most common form of high blood pressure and can be linked to a number of factors, including: family history, obesity, unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise. Essential hypertension can cause various cardiovascular complications and seriously jeopardise human health. An increasing prevalence of essential hypertension persists among young and middle-aged people, suggesting an increased risk of cardiovascular complications. 

The study published in BMJ says essential hypertension poses a significant threat to human health by contributing to various cardiovascular complications. Its prevalence is steadily rising among young and middle-aged individuals, indicating a heightened risk of associated cardiovascular issues. A key contributor to the development of essential hypertension in this demographic is an unhealthy lifestyle.

Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy, an Interventional Cardiology from Bengaluru, shared the study's findings on X and commented: "Apart from being a major distraction and waste of time, reel addiction is also associated with high #BloodPressure in young and middle-aged people. Time to #UnInsta!! #DoomScrolling #MedTwitter."

Apart from being a major distraction and waste of time, reel addiction is also associated with high #BloodPressure in young and middle-aged people. Time to #UnInsta!! #DoomScrolling #MedTwitter pic.twitter.com/Kuahr4CZlB

— Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy (@DrDeepakKrishn1) January 11, 2025

Many apps and social media platforms are designed to keep you scrolling and clicking for as long as possible, writes Dr Chandril Chugh, Peadiatric Neurologist, on his webpage. Playing games, chatting with friends, or watching videos on your screen — and losing rack of time till it is bedtime — means your brain is working overtime and is overstimulated. For healthy sleep schedule to take over, your body should ideally be winding down as dusk falls, but the stimulation from screens keeps it buzzing.

Here are 5 tips the doctor has posted on how to beat smartphone addiction at night and effectively cut down on screen time before bed:

1. Set a Screen Curfew: After this set hour, no electronic device should be turned on by you. Set the curfew hour an hour or two before bed. Your brain will automatically get trained to the rule that it’s time to wind down and get ready for sleep.
2. Create a Bedtime Routine: Human activity did eist before the electronic/digital devices era took over. Develop a bedtime routine that doesn’t involve screens - such as having a warm bath, reading a book, or practice some gentle yoga. Activities like drawing, writing, or doing puzzles will also help you usher in sleep gently. The body will know that it is slowdown time and will prepare for sleep.
3. Charge Devices outside Your Bedroom: Make your bedroom a screen-free zone, maintain its sanctity. Your phone should not be the last thing you check before falling asleep, not the screen to peep into when you wake up to visit the washroom at night, and not at all the first thing you peep into when you wake up in the morning. Keeping your phone, tablet, or laptop in another room can reduce the temptation to check them intermittently.
4. Get an Alarm Clock: Remember the digital clocks that displayed only the time or rang the alarm at the designated time? Get one now. Using your smartphone as a clock and an alarm clock will make you also look at the other devices. Lock away that possibility.
5. Use Night Mode: Electronic devices have a night mode or blue light filter that is less harsh than the white light of a bright screen. Switch on the night mode and be kind to the melatonin secretion in your body that will help you sleep better.