Social media hijacks your health?

Are you addicted to social media?  

Maybe you log on to keep up with old classmates… or for news updates and reactions… or to see what your grandchildren are up to. 

No matter what the reason, those mindless finger scrolls could be greatly impacting your health. And if you have grandchildren in their late teens and early 20s, you’ll especially want to listen up… 

I’ve previously reported on how daily “doom-scrolling” could destroy mental health. 

Now, researchers uncovered a shocking link between social media usage and physical health. And the younger you start logging on excessively, the more daunting those risks could be.  

Meaning you’ll want to share this information with your grandchildren immediately… 

Higher usage, higher disease probability 

Social media usage—along with time spent texting—is highest among those in their late teens and early 20s.  

But guess what? This is about the same time as when cholesterol plaques start to form and bone loss begins. Not to mention, their brains are still forming. So it’s really no surprise that this type of behavior has an effect on mental and physical health—especially among your grandchildren’s generation.

And that’s exactly what a new study, published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, has found. 

Researchers recruited 251 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 24 in 2017 to analyze the effect of social media usage on overall health. At the time, the most popular social media platforms included Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram.  

Blood samples were collected to analyze participants’ levels of C-reactive protein (CRP)—a marker of inflammation, which is the root cause of most chronic disease.  

Ultimately, those who reported higher social media usage also had higher levels of CRP. 

They also experienced frequent physical symptoms—like headaches or chest and back pains—and visited healthcare facilities more often. 

Stay connected… in moderation 

It’s one thing to stay connected. But it’s another thing to bury your head in electronic devices all day—no matter your age. 

I’ve always suggested limiting your screen time before bedtime especially. But now we’re learning that a certain level of interaction throughout the day can impact your physical health… and perhaps, even increase your disease risk. 

In other words, this is another aspect of life where moderation is key: a little might be beneficial, too much could be detrimental, and somewhere in the middle is a sweet spot we should all strive to achieve. 

In fact, I reported on the many pros and cons of modern technology in the March 2022 issue of my monthly Logical Health Alternatives newsletter (“The dark side of staying plugged in”). I also outline how just a few small changes can offer BIG rewards. 

So if you’re not already a subscriber, click here to become one and gain immediate access to this life-changing information. 

Source: 

“Social media use tied to poor physical health.” ScienceDaily, 01/24/2022. (sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220124103917.htm)