For most people, a sure way to ease out of the stress from a hard day’s hustle and bustle is to slump on a couch and spend some time watching TV.
From news, sports to entertainment, the options for unwinding through the virtual world are endless. With more channels available and interesting programming, it is not surprising that some can spend hours watching TV. Although TV could serve as a source for mental stimulation, entertainment, education and information, recent research has shown that the habit of constantly watching TV could be largely detrimental to the reproductive prowess of men.
In a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, it was discovered that healthy young men who watch TV for more than 20 hours a week (three hours a day on the average) have almost half the sperm count of men who watch very little TV. Conversely, men who do 15 or more hours of moderate to vigorous exercise every week have sperm counts that are 73 per cent higher than those who exercise little.
To find out if an increasingly sedentary lifestyle might be a contributory factor, they analysed the semen quality of 189 men between the ages of 18 and 22 in 2009-10, all of whom were from Rochester in New York, United States.
The men were asked about the quantity and intensity of weekly exercise they had had over the preceding three months, and how much time they spent watching television, DVDs, or videos over the same period.
And they were asked about factors that might affect sperm quality, including medical or reproductive health problems, diet, stress levels, and smoking.
Over half the men were within the normal range for weight for their height, and three out of four were non-smokers. The prevalence of reproductive health problems was low.
The amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity taken every week ranged from five to 14 hours, while weekly TV screen time varied from four to 20 hours. Men who were more physically active tended to have a healthier diet than those who watched a lot of TV every week.
The analysis showed that those who were the most physically active (15+ hours a week) had a 73 per cent higher sperm count than the least physically active. Exercise did not affect sperm motility, shape, or sample volume.
When analysed by exercise intensity, the results showed that light physical exercise made no difference to the sperm count, no matter how frequent it was.
TV viewing had the opposite effect. Those who watched the most (20 or more hours a week) had a sperm count that was 44 per cent lower than those who watched the least. It had no impact on sperm motility, shape, or sample volume.
And unlike smoking or weight, the amount of TV viewing seemed to counteract the beneficial effects of exercise, although this may be a chance finding, the authors said.
They, however, cautioned that a reduced sperm count does not necessarily curb a man’s fertility or his chances of being able to father a child, but the findings do suggest that a more physically active lifestyle may improve semen quality.
According to a consultant urologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, Professor Olayiwola Shittu, a sedentary lifestyle (which would arise from constant viewing of TV) is generally not recommended, especially for men.
“When you exercise regularly, chances are that a lot of the functions in the system will be at their optimal level, this includes sperm production, heart, respiratory and bowel functions. There is increased blood supply and lack of excessive weight and obesity is known to be detrimental for the male reproductive system.
“With obesity, the testicles are in a situation where they are held very close to the body mass and the body heat is deleterious to sperm production. So, a lean body mass, that is a slim structure or an appropriate body mass, would favour better sperm production.” He adds that habits such as excessive smoking and poor diet affect sperm quality.
Inasmuch as exercises are great for sperm production and quality, some experts say men, especially those who hope to father children, need to be selective about the kind of sport they do as some types may actually harm sperm.
They cite spending too much time riding a bike or doing long-distance running in tight clothing may not be good. Other studies have linked wearing tight underwear rather than boxer shorts with lower sperm levels.
Culled from Tribune
No comments:
Post a Comment