According to a new study published in the European Heart Journal – Digital Health, talking on a mobile phone for 30 minutes or longer per week has been linked with a 12 percent increased risk of developing high blood pressure or hypertension. The study was conducted by researchers from Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, and used data from the UK Biobank to examine the relationship between talking over phone calls and new-onset hypertension. The study included a total of 212,046 adults aged 37 to 73 years without hypertension.
The study found that those who talked on their mobile for 30 minutes or more per week had a 12 percent greater likelihood of new-onset high blood pressure than participants who spent less than 30 minutes on phone calls. The results were similar for both men and women. Additionally, weekly usage time of 30-59 minutes, 1-3 hours, 4-6 hours, and more than 6 hours was associated with an 8 percent, 13 percent, 16 percent, and 25 percent raised risk of high blood pressure, respectively. However, years of use or employing a hands-free device/speakerphone had no influence on the likelihood of developing high blood pressure.
The study suggests that the number of minutes people spend talking on a mobile phone is what matters for heart health, with more minutes meaning greater risk. A genetic risk analysis also showed that the likelihood of developing high blood pressure was 33 percent higher in those with high genetic risk and spending at least 30 minutes talking over the phone compared to those with low genetic risk and talking over the phone for less than 30 minutes.
While more research is needed to confirm the findings, the study’s authors suggest keeping mobile phone calls to a minimum to preserve heart health until further studies are conducted. With almost three-quarters of the global population aged 10 and over owning a mobile phone, it is important to raise awareness of the potential health risks associated with excessive mobile phone usage. Globally, hypertension is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke and a leading cause of premature death, making it important to understand the potential risk factors associated with high blood pressure.