Can too much screen time cause seizure? In today’s world, excessive screen time has emerged as a major problem as many people spend hours in front of screens each day for communication, pleasure, and work. Although there is mounting evidence that excessive screen time might lead to seizures, there is also evidence that it can have detrimental impacts on sleep patterns, eye strain, and physical activity levels.
Seizures are sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including convulsions, loss of consciousness, and muscle contractions. While seizures are most commonly associated with neurological disorders such as epilepsy, they can also be triggered by a variety of external factors, including exposure to certain chemicals, high fever, and certain types of light.
Excessive screen time has been linked to an increased risk of seizures in some people, according to recent studies. One research indicated that those who reported spending more than eight hours per day in front of a computer were more than twice as likely to develop seizures than those who spent less time in front of screens. The study was published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. According to a different research that was published in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior, those who reported spending more than five hours a day in front of a screen had a greater chance of having seizures than people who did not.
Although the exact process by which too much screen time may result in seizures is unknown, it is thought that particular visual patterns and flashing lights on screens might start seizures in people who are predisposed to them.
It’s also critical to remember that a variety of causes can lead to seizures, and not every person will experience seizures as a result of too much screen time. It’s crucial to speak with a healthcare provider if you or someone you love is having seizures in order to identify the underlying reason and obtain the proper therapy.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to monitor their children’s screen time to prevent them from being exposed to potentially upsetting visual cues and that kids and teenagers keep their daily screen time to under two hours.
Children aged 8 and younger use tablets on average for roughly 2.25 hours every day. According to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research from 2018, kids who spend more than an hour a day in front of a screen (TV, computer, video games, or mobile phone) are more likely to develop nearsightedness. This study also provided evidence linking excessive screen usage to both thinning cortical regions in the brain and worse academic performance.
In conclusion, prolonged exposure to screens has been associated with an elevated risk of seizures in some people. Although the exact mechanism underlying this relationship is not entirely known, it is believed that certain visual patterns and screen flashing lights might cause seizures in people who are prone to them. It is advised that people keep screen time to a minimum, be aware of possible triggers, and get medical help if necessary.
Click here for more about health and screens