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You become addicted -

Do you often find yourself hungry for new content to watch? For a new series to debut? And when it's finally screened, you just can't stop watching? Well, your brain might just have formed an addiction.

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You develop a craving -

"When binge-watching your favorite show, your brain is continually producing dopamine, and your body experiences a drug-like high," explained Dr. Renee Carr, Psy.D. "You experience a pseudo-addiction to the show because you develop cravings for dopamine," she added.

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Your relationships may suffer -

Humans are wired to connect with other humans, so when we over-connect to a TV screen instead of people, we will eventually "starve to death emotionally," according to psychologist Dr. Judy Rosenberg.

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Not great for heart health -

It's safe to say that most of us don't watch Netflix while working out. Instead, binge-watching is enjoyed chilling on the couch, perhaps with some food and drink. But be warned. This sedentary leisure time may not be great for your heart health.

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Can induce metabolic syndrome -

Research has shown that "sitting for long periods of time can increase one's risk for metabolic syndrome," which in turn can increase the risk of stroke and heart disease," explained Dr. Sophia Tolliver. 

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It can also cause a stroke -

This is exacerbated by the fact that many people binge-watch alone, and lack of socialization also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

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You might gain weight -

You are more likely to overeat while binge-watching. This is because you are distracted when doing so, and therefore likely to miss satiety cues your body gives you. In short, you don't realize you're full and keep eating.

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Piling on the pounds -

Instead of mindlessly eating while watching episode after episode, you can take a break and just eat. This will help you to be mindful about your food and listen to your body without any distractions.

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Your eyes might suffer -

Staring at a screen for hours on end can result in eyestrain, which will consequently come with symptoms such as headaches and fatigue.

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Taking a toll on your eyesight -

While this is not a permanent condition, binge-watching can take a toll on your eyes. Keeping the TV room softly lit may help. So will short breaks between episodes.

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Your sleep may suffer -

Late-night binge-watching is a frequent habit for some people, especially for those who have a TV in the bedroom. But such a stimulus is not good news for the quantity and quality of your sleep.

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Sleepless nights -

As mentioned previously, watching your favorite show releases dopamine (feel-good hormone), which leads to an arousal of your central nervous system. This can have a negative impact on your sleep. After all, your brain is telling you that "this is too good to stop watching," so why would you want to go to sleep, right?

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Your mental health might suffer -

Binge-watching has been linked to mental health issues, but it seems that not all of us respond in the same way. A survey conducted in the UK found that participants aged 18 to 24 were three times as likely to feel depressed after binge-watching a show and twice as likely to feel anxious. Those over 55, on the other hand, were less likely to feel similar symptoms.

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Comfort mode -

"When we're feeling low we're often drawn to things that can make us feel worse, such as unhealthy fast foods or long periods of inactivity binge-watching TV," noted Cal Strode of the Mental Health Foundation.

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It can be detrimental for your posture -

We're all guilty of sitting in awkward, yet comfy, positions on our couches. These include rounding the shoulders, a forward head, and a flat back.

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Align yourself with the screen -

If you're binge-watching, pay particular attention to your posture. Make sure the height of your TV is aligned with your head, and use a pillow or other type of lumbar support. And of course, get up and move a bit in between episodes.

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It can take your breath away -

Binge-watching can leave you breathless. Quite literally. Rounding your shoulders and adopting a forward head position can make it difficult to breathe deeply.

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Feeling breathless? -

So much so that sitting for long periods of time in such positions can actually decrease your oxygen levels. Research conducted by healthcare company CogniFit suggests that doing so actually "shrinks lung capacity by a third."

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Your risk of developing bowel cancer may increase -

Research by Imperial College London, the University of Oxford, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, found that men who spend four or more hours per day binge-watching are 35% more likely to get bowel cancer when compared to those who watch TV for less than an hour per day.

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A cause of cancer? -

While there is a correlation, it's not the binge-watching alone that increases the risk of cancer, but rather the behaviors associated with it. "Previous research suggests watching TV may be associated with other behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, and snacking more, and we know that these things can increase the risk of bowel cancer," explained Dr. Murphy from the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

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It can be bad for your skin -

Binge-watching can have a negative impact on your skin. More specifically, it can lead to premature aging, according to dermatologist Dr. Justine Hextall.

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Skin deep -

This happens when we're exposed to high energy visible light (or HEV light), which is emitted by screens (e.g. TV and phones). HEV light penetrates deep layers of our skins affecting an enzyme known as MMP-1.

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Screen skin symptoms -

Exactly how bad can it be? "This enzyme breaks down skin collagen and elastin, the structures that keep the skin firm and youthful, leading to the development of fine lines and wrinkles, not to mention sagging skin," elaborated Dr. Hextall. 

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It can lead to diabetes -

A study has found that for every hour we spend sitting on our couch binge-watching, our chance of developing diabetes increases by 3.4%. This means that an all-day binge could translate into a 30% increase of being diagnosed with diabetes.

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Sitting for long periods -

Seating for long periods of time is the main culprit, said Epidemiologist Andrea Kriska of the Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. This consequently puts binge-watchers in the risk group.

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You may develop blood clots -

A 2018 study from the University of Minnesota found that participants who said they sit and watched TV "very often" were at a 1.7 times higher risk of developing venous thromboembolism blood clots (VTE clots) in their legs.

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Risk of pulmonary embolism -

Additionally, binge-watchers are also at a higher risk for having a pulmonary embolism. "Even individuals who regularly engage in physical activity should not ignore the potential harms of prolonged sedentary behaviors such as TV viewing," warned the study's lead researcher, Dr. Yasuhiko Kubota.

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It may lead to "dead butt syndrome" -

Gluteal amnesia, also known as "dead butt syndrome" occurs when the gluteus medius muscle basically forgets how to work properly and as a result, stops firing correctly when needed. This is usually due to inactivity of the muscle, aggravated by seating.

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Ineffective glute muscles -

"If the glute muscles are not working efficiently or to their max capacity, then other muscles or areas will be subject to more stress [and] work, eventually leading to symptoms [elsewhere]," explained physical therapist Chris Kolba.

Sources: (Time) (British Journal of Cancer) (The Telegraph) (Health Digest) (Patient) (Self) (Mayo Clinic) (Deadline) (NBC News) (Mental Health Foundation) (Psychology Today)

See also: How to counteract the dangerous effects of prolonged sitting

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