Using Mobile Phones Increases Hypertension Risk: Study

BY David Chu(Epoch Times) Whether it’s for work or to stay in touch with friends and family, many people spend hours on their mobile phones every day. However, people rarely consider whether this habit could hurt their health. A study has found that using mobile phones for 30 minutes or more per week increases the risk of hypertension.

A study published in The Canadian Journal of Cardiology states that hypertension is one of the primary risk factors for heart attacks and strokes and a leading cause of premature death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s estimation, around 1.28 billion adults aged 30 to 79 worldwide suffer from hypertension.

A 2023 American Heart Association (AHA) report showed that 46.7 percent of Americans over 20 (more than 122 million) suffer from hypertension. The Canadian Journal of Cardiology study predicts that by 2025, the number of people worldwide suffering from hypertension will exceed 1.56 billion.

Duration of Mobile Phone Calls Relates to Risk of Hypertension

According to a study published on May 4 on the European Society of Cardiology’s (ESC) website, compared with people who talk on their mobile phones for less than 30 minutes per week, those who talk for half an hour or longer have a 12 percent higher risk of developing hypertension.

To further investigate the relationship between making and receiving mobile phone calls and newly developed hypertension, researchers used data from 212,046 participants in the UK Biobank who had no history of hypertension and were an average age of 53.7 years (37 to 73). Among these participants, 87.6 percent were mobile phone users, defined as those who make or receive at least one call per week.

The questionnaire survey included years of use, weekly hours, and use of hands-free devices/speakerphones.

To eliminate interference from other factors on the relationship between mobile phone use and hypertension, researchers adjusted the indexes for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), race, socioeconomic factors, family history of hypertension, education level, smoking status, blood pressure, blood lipids, inflammation, blood sugar levels, kidney function, and medication to lower cholesterol or blood sugar levels.

In this study, researchers followed participants for up to 12 years (median time) and found that 13,984 participants (6.6 percent) were diagnosed with hypertension. Mobile phone users had a 7 percent higher risk of developing hypertension than nonusers.

The study also found that compared with participants who talked on their phones for less than five minutes per week, those who talked for 30 to 59 minutes per week; one to three hours; four to six hours; and more than six hours per week increased their risk of developing hypertension by 8 percent, 13 percent, 16 percent, and 25 percent, respectively. Among mobile phone users, years of use and use of a hands-free device/speakerphone were not significantly associated with the development of hypertension.

Analysis showed that those with high genetic risk who talked on their phones for at least 30 minutes per week had a higher probability of developing hypertension: Their likelihood of developing hypertension was 33 percent higher than that of low genetic risk participants who talked on their phones for less than 30 minutes per week.

“Our findings suggest that talking on a mobile may not affect the risk of developing high blood pressure as long as weekly call time is kept below half an hour. More research is required to replicate the results, but until then, it seems prudent to keep mobile phone calls to a minimum to preserve heart health,” said the study author Professor Xianhui Qin of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

According to estimates from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 5.3 billion of the world’s population of 8 billion is online, accounting for 66 percent of the total population. At the same time, three-quarters of people aged 10 and above own a mobile phone. Research shows that radiation from wireless transmission devices can affect human health.

A 2014 study published in the International Journal of Health Sciences showed the potential health risks of using mobile phones. In addition to the number of daily phone calls, call duration and overall usage time are important factors that increase related health risks.

Mobile phones emit radiofrequency energy, which is nonionizing electromagnetic radiation. In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified mobile phone radiation as a possible carcinogen. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends limiting mobile phone use to reduce health risks, especially for children.

A 1998 study published in The Lancet reported that exposure to mobile phone radiation increases the risk of cardiovascular hypertension. Data showed that exposure to mobile phone radiation increased sympathetic nerve activity and raised resting blood pressure by 5 to 10 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), likely due to significant constriction of blood vessels.

High Blood Pressure Affects Brain Function

According to the 2014 World Alzheimer Report (pdf), multiple studies on a large population over 15 to 40 years old found that people with high blood pressure in middle age (usually between 40 and 64) are more likely to develop vascular dementia in their later years.

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. It is caused by decreased blood flow to the brain, depriving brain cells of the oxygen and nutrients they need to function correctly.

High blood pressure puts a lot of pressure on arteries, causing them to become thicker, harder, and narrower, known as arteriosclerosis. This narrowing of arteries can occur in the brain, causing a lack of necessary nutrients and oxygen, damaging brain cells, and preventing normal brain function.

High blood pressure is also a primary cause of stroke. The most common cause of stroke is arterial blockage in the brain (ischemic stroke). Another important cause of stroke is arterial rupture in the brain, leading to hemorrhagic stroke or cerebral hemorrhage.

The Alzheimer’s Society recommends taking the following measures to lower blood pressure:

1. Quit smoking, lose weight, exercise regularly, eat a low-salt diet, and reduce caffeine and alcohol intake.
2. Use prescribed blood pressure medication (that has been proven safe and effective) to control high blood pressure.

People with high blood pressure must consult a doctor for effective assistance and advice before attempting lifestyle changes or applying a new medication.