沉迷上网影响免疫力更易感冒

 　　Spending too much time online can increase your risk of catching¹ a cold or the flu, scientists have warned.

　　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。

　　Those with greater levels of internet addiction² are more likely to succumb³ to illness, than those who spend fewer hours online.

　　那些网瘾更严重的人要比上网时间较短的人更易生病。

　　Researchers at the universities of Swansea and Milan believe the reason lies in the fact people with an internet addiction are more secluded⁴, and as a result have weakened immune systems.

　　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。

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

　　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。

　　沉迷上网影响免疫力更易感冒

　　Past studies have also found people who spend more time online experience greater sleep deprivation⁵, have worse eating habits, engage in less exercise and tend to smoke and drink more alcohol.

　　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。

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

　　这些不良行为都会破坏人体免疫系统，增加得病几率。

　　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.'

　　斯旺西大学的费尔?里德教授（Phil Read）说：“我们发现网络对人类健康的影响与抑郁、睡眠不足、孤独等一系列其他因素并不相关。这些问题被认为与高频度的上网和健康状况差有关。”

　　Researchers evaluated 500 people aged⁶ 18 to 101 years old.

　　研究人员针对18岁到101岁间的500人进行了评估。

　　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。

　　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。

　　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。

　　And researchers found people who are addicted⁷ to the internet may suffer from great stress when they are disconnected from the net.

　　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。

　　This cycle of stress and relief associated with internet addiction may lead to altered levels of cortisol, a hormone⁸ that impacts on the immune system, Professor Read and his team noted⁹.

　　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。

　　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.'

　　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。”

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

　　该研究团队发现大多被研究人员平均每天上网6个小时。

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

　　少部分人则承认自己每天上网超过10个小时，通常用来浏览社交媒体网站。

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

　　研究人员还指出了男性和女性在使用网络上的不同。

　　Women showed a propensity¹⁰ 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。

　　Vocabulary

　　succumb ：屈服

　　cortisol：皮质醇

　　propensity：倾向，嗜好

　　pornography：色情作品

1 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

2 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

3 succumb   

v.屈服，屈从；死

参考例句：

• They will never succumb to the enemies.他们决不向敌人屈服。
• Will business leaders succumb to these ideas?商业领袖们会被这些观点折服吗？

4 secluded   

adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• Some people like to strip themselves naked while they have a swim in a secluded place. 一些人当他们在隐蔽的地方游泳时，喜欢把衣服脱光。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This charming cottage dates back to the 15th century and is as pretty as a picture, with its thatched roof and secluded garden. 这所美丽的村舍是15世纪时的建筑，有茅草房顶和宁静的花园，漂亮极了，简直和画上一样。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 deprivation   

n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困

参考例句：

• Many studies make it clear that sleep deprivation is dangerous.多实验都证实了睡眠被剥夺是危险的。
• Missing the holiday was a great deprivation.错过假日是极大的损失。

6 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

7 addicted   

adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的

参考例句：

• He was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.他17岁的时候对海洛因上了瘾。
• She's become addicted to love stories.她迷上了爱情小说。

8 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 propensity   

n.倾向；习性

参考例句：

• He has a propensity for drinking too much alcohol.他有酗酒的倾向。
• She hasn't reckoned on his propensity for violence.她不曾料到他有暴力倾向。