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TV linked to higher asthma risk

independent.co.uk — Children who watch television for more than two hours a day have twice the risk of developing asthma, British researchers reported today.

Who dugg this? Made popular Mar 5, 2009

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  • inactive, on 03/05/2009, -0/+24This is probably more connected to lack of excercise, rather than watching more TV specifically.
  • warragul, on 03/05/2009, -0/+16So asthma-prone kids prefer to sit watching TV rather than run around outside?
    Brilliant! What next? Blind kids don't watch TV? (Yes, I know they can.... but).
  • theholotrope, on 03/05/2009, -3/+18Watching mexican donkey porn can be pretty breathtaking.

    High five.
  • NeonDistraction, on 03/05/2009, -0/+12That's not entirely true. While genetics most likely play a role, most scientists believe environmental factors also play a key role.

  • Munk3y, on 03/05/2009, -0/+9Either this article is bad, the study or both. I'm sorry but this reeks of junk science. Buried!
  • DiggMasterJ, on 03/05/2009, -2/+11Breaking news: Scientists have discovered that children with asthma are more than twice as likely to be less active than those without. We'll bring you the full story at 9.

    FYI asthma is genetic.
  • inactive, on 03/05/2009, -0/+8This is probably more connected to Shaq and turkey thighs, rather than watching more PeeWee, typically.
  • qazws, on 03/05/2009, -0/+5I never had asthma, so its false.
  • PhantomPhoenix, on 03/05/2009, -0/+5I don't think it's directly the TV watching that is causing the asthma, but rather the lack of outdoor time.

    These 'researchers' probably didn't take statistics - even entry level.
  • 12916studios, on 03/05/2009, -0/+4By that logic I should be wheezing my ass off right now, because I KNOW I watched more than two hours a day when I was a kid. How the hell do you think I realized I wanted to write for television? And now on average it's somewhere near five.
  • wigglypig, on 03/05/2009, -0/+4Also stupidity.

    Don't believe me? Go back to watching Americas Next Latest Fattest Skinniest Dumbest Dog Contest
  • dasamps, on 03/05/2009, -0/+4Maybe they are just sitting around watching TV because they already have asthma, and it prevents them from doing physical activity.
  • snapcase, on 03/05/2009, -1/+4It's still an immune reaction that brings about an asthma attack... not inactivity. So whether the cause is genetic or environmental is irrelevant in regards to this shoddy article.
  • pauldy, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3These "facts" are *****. I might as well release my owns study claiming no one who has had my balls in their mouth has ever had a heart attack or cancer. So if you want to live longer you know what you need to do.
  • jesusxenu, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3*right
  • PenguinShogun, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3Of course there gonna have asthma, its hard to increase your lung capacity sitting on a couch.
  • wigglypig, on 03/05/2009, -1/+4Exactly. Kids who get out and run around from a young age are less likely to suffer from these types of things than their inactive siblings, despite similar genetic traits.
  • shotgunefx, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3Well this study (or the way they are presenting it) certainly seems like junk, but *I thought* I had read long ago that CRTs and some of the chemicals used (IIRC the flame retardants) could cause breathing problems as they cook off. If that is indeed true, It would be interesting to know if they tracked what type of televisions, and as CRTs become virtually extinct, if the trend changes
  • Azerael, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3Bwimey!
  • azies, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3so we must stay away from tv?
  • etx313, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3TV linked to basically everything bad in the known universe.
  • kidwithsword, on 03/05/2009, -0/+3I forgot everyone watched television with their lungs.
  • northa, on 03/05/2009, -0/+2This is the only explanation that makes sense. Exercising isn't a lot of fun when you can't breath.
  • TVarmy, on 03/05/2009, -0/+2http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090303/hl_nm/us_subbe ...

    Even the decision of the picture was junk... Remember that mouse?
  • redcolumbine, on 03/06/2009, -0/+2Correlation is not causation. Low socioeconomic status correlates to high TV consumption - and to both smoking and living in polluted areas.
  • waydee, on 03/05/2009, -0/+2The genetic predisposition to the immune response that is an asthma attack won't have changed significantly over the years but the number of children suffering from asthma has risen while physical activity has fallen.

    Of course there are likely other factors but I don't think it'd be crazy to suspect that there might be a link there, that in some cases a higher level of physical activity lowers the likelihood of symptoms presenting themselves.
  • vzerbee, on 03/08/2009, -0/+2How about the fact that indoor air can be more toxic than outdoor air? There are so many chemicals in our homes that moms who spend most of their days at home have been linked to increases in certain diseases including cancer, and makes sense that young children could have respiratory issues.
  • DonutGuy, on 03/05/2009, -0/+2Hmm, who the ***** is still funding this kind of research. Didn't we already conclude this last year?

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2137775/Too-much-t ...

    Also, :) at bad science.
  • DMin, on 03/05/2009, -0/+2Did anyone bitching about the poor research in this article actually read it? The link they're establishing is between sedentary behavior associated with watching TV and asthma. The article's headline is dumb, sensationalist crap.
  • Javy42, on 03/05/2009, -0/+2I love how correlation != causation has just gone completely out the window in the past few years...
  • TheTikiTony, on 03/05/2009, -0/+1I see what you did there.
  • PeteNice0110, on 03/05/2009, -1/+2I'm assuming we're talking about 3,000 children in the United States. Let's also take into consideration that the majority of these children are over weight, fat, morbidly obese or something worse!! Because again, we are talking about the US right?! So let's figure out how to get our children healthy and maybe try to be responsible parents before we go off and blame something like television. Seriously?! A survey is linking TV to asthma?! When did that go up for grabs??? That's like saying children between the ages of 5-10 who ate more than 6 cupcakes a year were more likely to be rapists when they grew up....
  • MadBadRabbit, on 03/05/2009, -0/+1I wonder. Most TV sets are coated with a nice thick layer of dust and allergens (since the electron beam inside constantly builds up a static charge on the screen). There are also hot plastic-covered components inside, slowly emitting fumes through the ventilation holes. Either of these could worsen asthma symptoms.
  • Bluethunder1, on 03/05/2009, -0/+1Maybe it's more likely that the kids who have asthma are already watching TV, not outside playing sports.

    Post hoc ergo hoc.

    Christ people, go to college.
  • FI5HERMAN, on 03/04/2009, -5/+3Wow ! ........thats a bloody lot of kids then if these fact are wright !!!

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