Too much screen time literally makes men soft: Chinese scientists have found that playing computer games for long periods of time can significantly increase the likelihood of experiencing erectile dysfunction, says the Journal According to a study published in “Andrology”.
“The present study provided substantial evidence of a positive causal relationship between computer use and the risk of erectile dysfunction,” the study authors wrote.
Scientists arrived at this hard truth by investigating “the causal relationship between leisure-time sedentary behavior and erectile dysfunction,” according to the study.
To determine whether there was a link, researchers surveyed 223,805 men between the ages of 40 and 69 for a variety of reasons, including watching TV, using a computer, and even driving for pleasure. They were observed engaging in leisure activities.
They then measured the participants’ levels of testosterone and other sex hormones, as well as their feelings of depression and anxiety.
The scientists found that for every 1.2 hours of leisure time spent using a computer (although they did not specify the type), participants were more than three times more likely to experience ED.
Interestingly, the scientists did not “obtain any evidence” to suggest that watching TV or leisurely driving did not have the same effect, suggesting that being sedentary in itself is not the problem. ing.
How do these pixelated pursuits destroy a person’s “hard” drive?
Prolonged computer use reduces the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. FSH, along with testosterone, plays the following roles: stimulates sperm production in menwhich, if affected, can cause ED.
As a similar token, Low level FSH It has also been shown to cause low libido, infertility, and low energy. Fortunately, according to this study, digitally induced impotence can be countered by “moderate physical activity.”
However, there’s no need to replace your laptop with an elliptical just yet. There were several caveats to this study. Most notable is the fact that only men under 70 were evaluated. The age at which ED is most prevalent.
The severity of the symptoms was also unknown.
“Thus, we can only conclude that the more time you spend on a computer, the more likely you are to develop ED, but we cannot determine your risk of developing a particular type of ED or how severe your ED is. “We were unable to do so,” the authors said. I have written.
The researchers determined that further research was needed to establish a “definitive causal relationship” between computer use and impotence.
This study also neglects to determine what kind of slow computer use increases the likelihood of ED. It currently affects approximately 30 million men in the United States.
But previous research has found that online porn can paradoxically give young men unrealistic sexual arousal and ruin their love lives.
“Porn addiction can cause desensitization to sexual stimulation, which can lead to decreased arousal and difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection,” says clinical sexologist and psychotherapist Rob. Dr. Weiss explains. “If my main source of excitement is constantly looking at 50 images a day or 1,000 images a day, I’m personally less interested. .”
