Spending too much time online can increase your risk of catching a cold or the flu, scientists have warned. Those with greater levels of Internet addiction are more likely to succumb to illness than those who spend fewer hours online.

    Researchers at the universities of Swansea and Milan believe the reason lies in the fact people with an Internet addiction are more secluded, and as a result have weakened immune systems.

    They said the lack of interaction with other people and less time spent outside exposing themselves to germs played a role.

    Past studies have also found people who spend more time online experience greater sleep deprivation, have worse eating habits, engage in less exercise and tend to smoke and drink more alcohol.

    These behaviors can harm their immune system and increase vulnerability to diseases.

    Researchers evaluated 500 people aged 18 to 101 years old.

    They found that those who reported problems with excessive use of the Internet also suffered more cold and flu symptoms than those who spent less time online.

    Around 40 percent of the sample reported mild or worse levels of Internet addiction - a figure which did not differ between males and females.

    People who have greater levels of Internet addiction had around 30 percent more cold and flu symptoms than those with less problematic internet usage.

    And researchers found people who are addicted to the Internet may suffer from great stress when they are disconnected from the net.

    This cycle of stress and relief associated with Internet addiction may lead to altered levels of cortisol, a hormone that impacts on the immune system, Professor Read and his team noted.

    Professor Phil Read from Swansea University said, "It may also be that those who spend a long time alone on the Internet experience reduced immune function as a result of simply not having enough contact with others and their germs."

    Women showed a propensity to use social media sites and shop online, while men were more likely than women to use the Internet for gaming and pornography, according to research results.

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

    屈服

    qūfú

    succumb

    yield to disease, wounds, old age, etc.

    嗜好

    shìhào

    propensity

    a natural inclination or tendency

    沉迷上网影响免疫力

    科学家近日警告，上网时间过长会增加患感冒和流感的几率。那些网瘾更严重的人要比上网时间较短的人更易生病。

    斯旺西大学和米兰大学的研究人员认为造成这一结果的原因是沉溺于网络的人更喜欢足不出户，因而导致免疫系统下降。

    研究人员表示，缺乏与他人的互动以及在户外接触细菌的时间较短也是一方面原因。

    以往的研究还发现上网时间较长的人往往睡眠不足更严重，饮食习惯较差，锻炼得更少，并且更可能吸烟酗酒。

    这些不良行为都会破坏人体免疫系统，增加得病几率。

    研究人员针对18岁到101岁间的500人进行了评估。

    他们发现，那些有过度上网问题的人比上网时间较短的人出现了更多的感冒和流感症状。

    40%左右的被研究人员称自己有轻微或更严重的网瘾，这一数字在男性和女性群体间并无差异。

    重度网瘾患者出现的感冒和流感症状比网络依赖度较低的人多30%左右。

    研究人员还发现沉溺于网络的人在网络无法连接时可能感受到巨大的压力。

    里德教授以及他的团队指出，这种因网瘾而产生的压力与解压的循环会导致皮质醇水平的改变，皮质醇是一种会对免疫系统造成影响的荷尔蒙。

    斯旺西大学的费尔?里德教授说：“也可能是独自上网时间较长的人同他人以及他人身上的病菌接触较少，导致免疫系统功能下降。”

    研究结果表明，女性倾向于浏览社交媒体网站和网购，而男性则更可能上网打游戏和浏览色情作品。