Pew researchers assert that nearly 75% of the US adult population is using or exposed to social media today. Compare that to just ten years ago when these platforms were almost unheard of.
And that can be good for our health because being connected to people improves health.
But can the use of this technology that is designed to connect us be causing high blood pressure? According to the new study the answer is an immediate “YES.”
People use social media for a variety of purposes. Some people only connect with friends and family, some follow news outlets to connect with headlines and current events. People who like the connectivity it brings would sing its praises when explaining the convenience.
However, there are emerging risk factors that have come from the explosive use of social media- and they aren’t all related to cyber-bullying.
The Pew researchers recently uncovered trends that have heretofore gone unnoticed in the world of social media.
Having a constant stream or “Newsfeed” scrolling before your eyes exposes you to not just happy moments, but also terrible news, drama, and other stressors that people wouldn’t normally experience elsewhere.
News stories and people complaining about interpersonal relationships abound. The constant airing of dirty laundry and stories, especially those with video, of a shocking nature, are contributing to increases in high blood pressure, anxiety attacks, and even bowel disorders.
The researchers noted that “mirror neurons” in our brains work by mirroring back what we see around us- like a biological empathy trigger. Similarly to how we yawn when we see someone around us yawning, we are called to an emotional reaction when people “rant “or post disturbing videos- most of the time we can’t help it.
Many researchers and specialists recommend that adults should spend less than an hour a day on social media. It can be difficult when your job involves having to be on it (as with marketing or sales), but if you suffer from high blood pressure it is critical to limit time spent exposed to such triggers.
If you can’t shut off social media completely, you should limit subscriptions and “likes” of negative posts that causes sensory stress.
This study is just one more bit of proof that high blood pressure is always caused by some kind of stress. In this case, it’s sensory stress. It can also be physical (disease), mental (worrying), or emotional (unhealthy relationship); but there is always some kind of stress.
Now, we can’t always eliminate the stress factors. But you can get rid of the accumulated stress in your body and mind. That is, lower your overall stress hormone productions and therefore lower blood pressure.
You do this by giving your mind something I call a “Focused Break.” These focused break exercises reboot your system and tell your brain not to release so much stress hormone that’s causing high blood pressure.
Thousands of readers have used these focused break exercises successfully to bring their blood pressure down to a healthy level. Try them out for yourself here…
Young people today do not realise that 'Must Have, all my friends have them' is and, can not be doing them any good at all. A recent programme here in the UK found that some school children could not cope without their i phones or whatever means of communication they use. It's pretty sad to see that people these days, whilst in each other's company, still have to be engrossed with their mobile phones and not communicate between themselves. Like other good inventions and intentions, the outcome is not what the inventor imagined for the long term.
Nothing like reinstating mandatory military service of 3 years for undisciplined brats!!!!
It is a pity Doctors do not understand this. Perhaps if they did the world would be a better place. My doctor told me she knew of only 1 person who had ever reversed hypertension. I told her that was unsurprising given that her only apprach was mess.
Eliminating unresolved childhood trauma is the No 1 best way of eliminating hypertension. Use EFT, Theta, Yoga, Meditation and encouragement fro a health professional that actual gets it and you will be fine.
GOOD KNIFES .NATURALY HAS SHARP EDGES.WE CAN USE THEM IN KITCHEN OR TO PEEL FRUITS.AND ALSO WE CAN USE THEM TO KILL (EVIL PURPOSE AND TARGETS)AS ALL HUMAN DISCOVERIES.SO ALIENATION IS NOT A JOYFUL MODREN SICKNISS ALL OVER OUR MODRENIZED WORLD.AS A RESULTS OF OUR BELIEVINGS OF THE MATERILISTIC VALUES NOT THE SPIRITUALS VALUES.NOTHING ODD