沉迷上網影響免疫力更易感冒大綱

Spending too much time online can increase your risk of catching a cold or the flu, scientists have warned.

科學家近日警告，上網時間過長會增加患感冒和流感的機率。

Those with greater levels of internet addiction are more likely to succumb to illness, than those who spend fewer hours online.

那些網癮更嚴重的人要比上網時間較短的人更易生病。

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.

斯旺西大學和米蘭大學的研究人員認爲造成這一結果的原因是沉溺於網絡的人更喜歡足不出戶，因而導致免疫系統下降。

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

研究人員表示，缺乏與他人的互動以及在戶外接觸細菌的時間較短也是一方面原因。

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.

以往的研究還發現上網時間較長的人往往睡眠不足更嚴重，飲食習慣較差，鍛鍊得更少，並且更可能吸菸酗酒。

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

這些不良行爲都會破壞人體免疫系統，增加得病機率。

Professor Phil Read, from Swansea University, said: 'We found that the impact of the internet on people's health was independent of a range of other factors, like depression, sleep deprivation, and loneliness, which are associated with high levels of internet use and also with poor health.'

斯旺西大學的費爾·裏德教授（Phil Read）說：“我們發現網絡對人類健康的影響與抑鬱、睡眠不足、孤獨等一系列其他因素並不相關。這些問題被認爲與高頻度的上網和健康狀況差有關。”

Researchers evaluated 500 people aged 18 to 101 years old.

研究人員針對18歲到101歲間的500人進行了評估。

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.

他們發現，那些有過度上網問題的人比上網時間較短的人出現了更多的感冒和流感症狀。

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

40%左右的被研究人員稱自己有輕微或更嚴重的網癮，這一數字在男性和女性羣體間並無差異。

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

重度網癮患者出現的感冒和流感症狀比網絡依賴度較低的人多30%左右。

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

研究人員還發現沉溺於網絡的人在網絡無法連接時可能感受到巨大的壓力。

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.

裏德教授以及他的團隊指出，這種因網癮而產生的壓力與解壓的循環會導致皮質醇水平的改變，皮質醇是一種會對免疫系統造成影響的荷爾蒙。

Professor Read 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.'

裏德教授說：“也可能是獨自上網時間較長的人同他人以及他人身上的病菌接觸較少，導致免疫系統功能下降。”

The team found most people reported using the internet on average for six hours a day.

該研究團隊發現大多被研究人員平均每天上網6個小時。

Meanwhile, a minority admitted to being online for more than 10 hours a day - usually using social media sites.

少部分人則承認自己每天上網超過10個小時，通常用來瀏覽社交媒體網站。

And researchers noted differences between the way men and women use the internet.

研究人員還指出了男性和女性在使用網絡上的不同。

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.

女性傾向於瀏覽社交媒體網站和網購，而男性則更可能上網打遊戲和瀏覽色情作品。