0:00:02 > 0:00:05Every day, we're bombarded with conflicting messages
0:00:05 > 0:00:07about how to live a healthy, happy life.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11One minute, we're told something's the right thing to do.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14The next, it's the complete opposite,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17and we're left without a clue which advice to follow.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23So we've been wading through the confusion to separate the
0:00:23 > 0:00:25scare stories from the truth
0:00:25 > 0:00:28to help you work out what's best for you.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Hello and welcome to Health: Truth Or Scare,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41the series that asks whether or not the dramatic headlines and
0:00:41 > 0:00:45shocking stories that we read about every day are really giving us
0:00:45 > 0:00:48the whole picture when it comes to what is really good or bad for us.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Yeah, and today we'll be getting to grips with reports that
0:00:51 > 0:00:54suggest the technology millions of us use every day and
0:00:54 > 0:00:57might be hard pushed to live without could actually be doing
0:00:57 > 0:01:00irreparable damage to our senses.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03So whether it's our gadgets, our sedentary lifestyles,
0:01:03 > 0:01:05or even our desk jobs,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09it really does seem that some aspects of 21st century life
0:01:09 > 0:01:13may not represent progress in quite the way that we had all hoped.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16And actually, it could even be doing us harm, so by the end of
0:01:16 > 0:01:17today's programme,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20we do rather hope that you're going to have a much better idea of which,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24indeed if any, of those stories you need to pay a bit more attention to.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29Coming up, is modern technology making us blind and deaf?
0:01:29 > 0:01:32We hit the streets to find out.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Oh, my goodness!
0:01:35 > 0:01:38- That's bad.- And when it comes to washing your hands,
0:01:38 > 0:01:42should we dig the dirt rather than blitz that bacteria?
0:01:42 > 0:01:45How can my hands possibly be dirtier after I wash them?
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Now, Kevin, I know you're a fair bit younger than me, but when you were a
0:01:52 > 0:01:55little lad, did your mum used to say to you, "Now, Kevin, don't you get
0:01:55 > 0:01:57"too close to that television screen,
0:01:57 > 0:01:58"cos you'll ruin your eyesight."
0:01:58 > 0:02:00She did, Angela. All the time.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02I've got to be honest, though, I didn't listen to her.
0:02:02 > 0:02:03I don't think any of us did.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06But I say the same things to my kids as well and they don't listen
0:02:06 > 0:02:09to me, but they get so much closer to their smartphones and
0:02:09 > 0:02:12tablets than I ever did to my mum's old telly.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15And that's exactly the problem that some of these headlines are
0:02:15 > 0:02:17suggesting we are now facing.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21"How modern life could be harming our health," says this one.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24And they're worried not just about what damage we might be doing
0:02:24 > 0:02:29to our eyes by looking at all these electronic devices, but just as
0:02:29 > 0:02:33importantly, what damage we might be doing to our ears because we're
0:02:33 > 0:02:35listening to everything on headphones, and actually
0:02:35 > 0:02:38they're talking about the possibility of lots of people
0:02:38 > 0:02:40going prematurely deaf.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43But hang on, before any of you throw away your tablets,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46your smartphones, or even your headphones, let's find out for sure
0:02:46 > 0:02:50whether or not our gadgets really are playing havoc with our senses.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Over the past few decades,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Britain has slowly turned into a nation of headphone addicts.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Walk down a busy city street today and you might find the
0:03:02 > 0:03:05people not wearing headphones are in the minority.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10I must admit, I do use headphones, and that's
0:03:10 > 0:03:14so that I can listen to or watch things that I've downloaded on the
0:03:14 > 0:03:18tablet, usually before I'm about to make a trip on a train or a plane.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21But I do always try to ensure that the volume is low enough
0:03:21 > 0:03:23so that I'm not annoying everybody else who's around me.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Because when I hear other people with sound coming out of their
0:03:26 > 0:03:31headphones, I must admit, I do worry what that is doing to their hearing.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35There have been plenty of reports claiming those headphones are
0:03:35 > 0:03:39causing a rise in the number of cases of the condition tinnitus,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41which causes a ringing in the ears.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43And one study even predicted that
0:03:43 > 0:03:48Britain is facing an epidemic of deafness.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50But how accurate are these reports?
0:03:50 > 0:03:54And how aware are we all of the dangers of our listening habits?
0:03:54 > 0:03:57You've got earphones in. Can you hear what I'm saying to you?
0:03:57 > 0:04:00- Barely.- Do you want to take them out?- Yeah.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03What level do you have the sound at?
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Middle, cause my older brother's a doctor and he's got tinnitus,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08so he's warmed me about this sort of thing already.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10- So you're aware of the damage that noise can do to your ears.- Yes.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13How much time in the day do you reckon you listen on your
0:04:13 > 0:04:16- headphones?- A good three or four hours a day.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Are you aware of how high the level is?
0:04:18 > 0:04:21It's actually got a warning and I always push it above the warning.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23- Why?- I've got a few years left in
0:04:23 > 0:04:26me yet before I have to worry about my hearing.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29I'm a musician so I try to look after my ears, so I keep it down.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32- Are you worried about going deaf? - Yeah, of course I am.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Yeah, I'm really conscious of that. Music is my first love.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37I would be lost without music.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42So is this love of listening to music putting our hearing at risk?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Chris Plack is a professor of audiology
0:04:44 > 0:04:46at the University of Manchester
0:04:46 > 0:04:50who's studied the impact of noise exposure on our ears.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I think one of the main problems these days is people
0:04:53 > 0:04:57listening to loud music on their MP3 players using their earphones.
0:04:57 > 0:04:58A lot of them use what I use,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01which are those... What I call the little buds that go in the ear.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03So if they're in a noisy environment,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06then they'll tend to crank these things up to quite dangerous levels
0:05:06 > 0:05:09so that they drown out all external sound.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12What is the damage that we are actually doing to our hearing?
0:05:12 > 0:05:16I think one of the main causes of sort of conventional hearing loss,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19that you can measure in a clinic, is damage to the sensitive hair
0:05:19 > 0:05:21cells in the inner ear.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24The damage will build up and you get this sort of permanent loss
0:05:24 > 0:05:27- in function.- Is it reversible? Is there anything you can do?
0:05:27 > 0:05:29At the moment, I'm afraid there's nothing you can do.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34Hearing loss affects a staggering 11 million people in the UK,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37and although the majority of those cases aren't caused by listening
0:05:37 > 0:05:41to loud music, many stories are still predicting widespread hearing
0:05:41 > 0:05:44damage among young people.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48I think young people tend to expose themselves to more loud noise
0:05:48 > 0:05:51- than older people.- So they'll go deaf earlier?
0:05:51 > 0:05:54It's possible that this generation are going to experience
0:05:54 > 0:05:58hearing problems at an earlier age than the previous generation.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02So to find out just how loud people listen to their music,
0:06:02 > 0:06:06we've headed to a noisy city centre with Professor Plack, his colleague
0:06:06 > 0:06:12Keith, and this guy, Kemar, who's used for hearing and sound research.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14We'll be testing whether the younger generation are
0:06:14 > 0:06:18cranking up their headphones to ear-damaging levels.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21And first up is 21-year-old student Mubina,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24who reckons she spends about half her day listening on earphones.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Do you turn the levels up to try
0:06:26 > 0:06:28and get rid of the sound that's around you?
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Yeah. If it's blasting... I don't know. I like it more.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Crucially, all personal music players and mobile phones
0:06:35 > 0:06:39sold in the EU since 2013 must now display a warning when
0:06:39 > 0:06:43a sound limit of 85 decibels exceeded, but many users,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46like Mubina, often override this level.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48How high have you got that up?
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- Like, up to here.- It's up to the red?- Yeah.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53That's really quite loud.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Yeah. I just got kind of used to it.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Time for Kemar to test Mubina's levels.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Play the music. Let's see what we get up to.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03OK, so we're getting levels here of about sort of 80, 83 DBs.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Not too bad. It's not too bad.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08I wouldn't recommend listening to it at that level all day.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11It might, you know, be causing some minor damage.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15This level is about the equivalent of standing 15 metres from
0:07:15 > 0:07:19a moving freight train, so Mubina needs to limit the volume and
0:07:19 > 0:07:21amount of time she uses her headphones.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Fellow student Shannon has also volunteered to be tested.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28She reckons she spends about two hours a day on her headphones.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Oh, my goodness!
0:07:31 > 0:07:33- That's bad.- Oh, no. - That is very loud.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36So we're getting readings of sort of 95 DBs,
0:07:36 > 0:07:40so that's 10 DB more than would be considered safe.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43This is the equivalent of Shannon listening to a power mower,
0:07:43 > 0:07:47and according to official advice, this could cause permanent damage.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51Our next participant, Christian, is rarely without his headphones
0:07:51 > 0:07:54and loves his music on maximum.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58I go to a lot of concerts, so I've had occasions where one ear
0:07:58 > 0:08:01has just gone completely deaf for a couple of days.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04And there's further cause for concern when Chris tests
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Christian's usual listening level.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11It was showing readings there of about 95.
0:08:11 > 0:08:12Saw one there of over 100 DB.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15That's really very loud indeed, so you wouldn't need to listen
0:08:15 > 0:08:18to that for very long to start causing damage to your hearing.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21- He's admitted there are days when you go deaf.- Yeah.- Oh, my goodness.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Do you have any problems with hearing people speak in
0:08:24 > 0:08:27- a noisy environment? - Yeah, a lot of the time.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30So I think you'd have to go to an audiologist to get your
0:08:30 > 0:08:33hearing checked if you're worried about it.
0:08:33 > 0:08:39Christian, how much of a shock was that reading that you are way
0:08:39 > 0:08:43- over the top for dangerous sound levels?- It was quite a shock.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47I knew I was listening to it way over probably what I should be,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50but I didn't realise it was probably significantly damaging my ears.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52That's not something I want to happen.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55But, if like Christian, you go to a lot of concerts,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58then headphones aren't the only way you can damage your ears.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01If you've ever experienced ringing in your ears after
0:09:01 > 0:09:02a concert or event,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05then you'll know it doesn't usually last for more than a day or
0:09:05 > 0:09:10so, but even so, being exposed to loud sounds can damage your hearing.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13And for anyone who does that frequently over a long period,
0:09:13 > 0:09:15it could pose a serious and
0:09:15 > 0:09:17irreparable damage risk to their hearing.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22The music young people listen to at festivals,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25gigs and clubs has helped spark reports predicting that they
0:09:25 > 0:09:28are going to be generation deaf,
0:09:28 > 0:09:29but just how true is that?
0:09:31 > 0:09:34I think it's a worrying trend that more young people are
0:09:34 > 0:09:35reporting hearing problems,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38and I think one of the issues is that these hearing problems
0:09:38 > 0:09:41often don't get picked up, so we're looking for ways in which we
0:09:41 > 0:09:44might be able to detect the early signs of noise damage.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48So Professor Plack has already showed us how loud people have their
0:09:48 > 0:09:51headphones, but now he and his colleague Hannah are going to
0:09:51 > 0:09:55carry out tests to see whether three volunteers who love live music
0:09:55 > 0:09:58have any hearing loss at high frequencies,
0:09:58 > 0:10:02the frequencies that disappear first when you start to lose your hearing.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07First to be tested is Kieran,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10a 31-year-old electric guitarist in a band and regular gig goer.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13OK, so if you want to take a seat in the booth and we'll get you set up
0:10:13 > 0:10:15for the hearing test.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17I've especially noticed I've lost the left-hand side of me,
0:10:17 > 0:10:20which is the side that is next to the speakers.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Some of the beeps will be quite easy to hear and some will be very,
0:10:23 > 0:10:24very quiet indeed.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27Every time you hear one, press the button.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30If Kieran fails to hear the high frequency tones,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32it could be a sign of hearing damage.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36It looks like for this very highest frequency, Kieran's hearing
0:10:36 > 0:10:40does drop off, but it's still just about within the normal range.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43He doesn't seem to be quite as good in the left ear.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Kieran's results for that left ear could be the first
0:10:46 > 0:10:49indicators of potential future hearing loss.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Next up is loud metal lover Christian from earlier.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56He's already experienced hearing problems after regularly
0:10:56 > 0:10:59listening to loud music for long periods of time.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02So his performance starts to drop a little bit at the very
0:11:02 > 0:11:04highest frequency,
0:11:04 > 0:11:06but it's still well within the normal range.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Yeah, I mean, I think at the moment, he's actually doing slightly
0:11:09 > 0:11:13better than you would normally expect someone of his age.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16Professor Plack and Hannah are surprised by Christian's results.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20He's someone who does subject his ears to an awful lot of
0:11:20 > 0:11:23high-level noise and so we would expect to see some kind of
0:11:23 > 0:11:25damage showing up, but not so in his case.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28I mean, different individuals have different susceptibility to
0:11:28 > 0:11:32noise damage so it could be that Christian has quite tough ears.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35All done, so I'll just pop those headphones off you.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40So Christian is lucky, but he needs to turn it down.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Next into the booth is professional DJ Paulette,
0:11:45 > 0:11:49who spent 30 years DJing in noisy clubs.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53When I'm DJing, I will start at eight o'clock and finish at
0:11:53 > 0:11:57two in the morning and that will be right through.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00And her tests show that years of DJing have definitely had an
0:12:00 > 0:12:02effect on her hearing.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Left ear, there's a little bit of hearing loss.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08We understand that Paulette has a monitor on that side in her work,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11so she's exposed to more noise.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14But it's her right ear that gives the biggest surprise of the day.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17So we've just tested the very highest frequencies in the
0:12:17 > 0:12:21right ear on Paulette and she can't hear any of them at all,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23no matter how loud we make them.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27So her hearing for the very highest frequencies has really dropped down.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30So that might be indicative that she's been listening to loud
0:12:30 > 0:12:32- music for a large portion of her life.- Yeah.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36At the moment, it's only sounds outside the everyday range of
0:12:36 > 0:12:38hearing that Paulette can't detect.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41But if she doesn't take precautions now,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44and continues to listen to loud music, the damage could get
0:12:44 > 0:12:47worse and affect her ability to hear everyday sounds.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53The good news for you is that you haven't really done much
0:12:53 > 0:12:57damage in the important range, so there's still time for you to
0:12:57 > 0:12:59take precautions against noise exposure.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01OK, so I do need to wear my ear plugs.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Yeah, I think professional ear plugs that you can get are very
0:13:04 > 0:13:06good at reducing the levels of sounds,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09but evenly across the different frequencies.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12So Paulette doesn't have to hang up her headphones just yet,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16and Chris and Hannah have another top tip for the rest of the group
0:13:16 > 0:13:18to help prevent hearing damage.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21One of the things that can help you hear your music clearly in a loud
0:13:21 > 0:13:24environment is if you have sound isolating earphones that have
0:13:24 > 0:13:28a sort of squidgy tip that lodge really firmly in your ear and
0:13:28 > 0:13:30seal it closed and block out the background sounds,
0:13:30 > 0:13:34or equally if you have headphones that surround your ears entirely.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36It means that you can pop your volume down to
0:13:36 > 0:13:39a really quite safe level and still be able to appreciate your
0:13:39 > 0:13:41music in all environments.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44And it's listening to music at a safe level that is key to
0:13:44 > 0:13:46avoid the hearing problems we've been warned about.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50As we've found out, there's a lot of people listening to music that's too
0:13:50 > 0:13:55loud for too long, and the damaging effects of that can be irreversible.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57So remember to look after your lugs.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09I have to admit,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I was really quite relieved to read a bit of research that was
0:14:12 > 0:14:16done recently by a germ specialist into what's known as the
0:14:16 > 0:14:18five-second rule.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22It's that rule that suggests that if you drop some food on the floor,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24provided you pick it up and eat it within five seconds,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27it's actually all right to eat. And apparently it's true.
0:14:27 > 0:14:28Well, you know what?
0:14:28 > 0:14:31I'm just thinking back now to when I was a child and maybe you can
0:14:31 > 0:14:34relate to this as well - I'm sure we played the 20, 30, 40 second rule.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36I think we all did!
0:14:36 > 0:14:38I mean, the world's gone antibacterial mad, hasn't it?
0:14:38 > 0:14:41There seems to be a gel, lotion or spray that can pretty much
0:14:41 > 0:14:43kill every imaginable germ out there.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45And, you know, when it comes to your hands,
0:14:45 > 0:14:49the question is how often should we wash them, and in what?
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Because there are headlines that suggest that it's our
0:14:52 > 0:14:56obsession with keeping our hands clean that is actually doing
0:14:56 > 0:15:00more harm than good, so we sent Steve Brown off to investigate.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03Now, when I was growing up,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06I thought a bar of soap and plenty of hot water always did the
0:15:06 > 0:15:09trick when it came to washing our hands properly.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13But these days, this old-fashioned method has become exactly that,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16as we all splash out on antibacterial gels,
0:15:16 > 0:15:18wipes and sprays.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Whether we're at home, in the office, or out and about,
0:15:21 > 0:15:25we've been led to believe they're all we need to keep germs at bay.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29I'm also really conscious about how dirty my hands get.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Hundreds of times a day, they touch my wheels and in turn my
0:15:32 > 0:15:34wheels then touch the floor.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38In autumn 2016, some antibacterial soaps were banned in America
0:15:38 > 0:15:42amid claims they didn't work any better than soap and water,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45and worse still, they might actually do more harm than good.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48And the ban was followed by more stories saying we should
0:15:48 > 0:15:50instead embrace a bit of dirt,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52contrary to what we've long believed.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57So to help me find out if we're unnecessarily obsessed with
0:15:57 > 0:16:00bacteria, I've recruited an accomplice.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Katie's a mum to three-year-old Tabitha.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05And while she's not a complete clean obsessive,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08her home is always well-stocked with cleaning products.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11I tend just to buy what's on offer in the supermarket or in the shops.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13We use antibacterial soaps.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15I've got a variety of different wipes
0:16:15 > 0:16:17that I use on different surfaces.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Lots of them claim to kill 99.9% of bacteria so I think as a mum,
0:16:20 > 0:16:24you think, "Oh, that must be good. That must be doing the job then."
0:16:24 > 0:16:27But recently, Katie's become concerned that it might not
0:16:27 > 0:16:28be money well spent.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31It's just really difficult to know what to do for the best.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Do you make sure that they're immaculately clean and
0:16:33 > 0:16:37everything they touch is immaculately clean all of the time,
0:16:37 > 0:16:41or do you actually just be a bit more relaxed about it?
0:16:41 > 0:16:44But the bacteria inside the house is just the tip of the iceberg.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Katie worries even more might be lurking outside.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49Something she has in common with the
0:16:49 > 0:16:50other parents at the local playgroup.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Generally, when I'm on the move, though, I'll always have, like,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56a hand sanitiser in my handbag and I use that for myself and my daughter.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Because when you're out and about with a child,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00they get messy all the time,
0:17:00 > 0:17:04and it's not always in toilets and in restaurants.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07It's not always as hygienic as you would like.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11I always thought antibacterial soaps and gels would do the best
0:17:11 > 0:17:13job at keeping my hands clean.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16But there are suggestions that the opposite is true.
0:17:16 > 0:17:21So are we placing too much faith in their antibacterial powers?
0:17:21 > 0:17:24To find out, Katie and I are meeting clinical bacteriologist
0:17:24 > 0:17:28Professor Peter Hawkey at the University of Birmingham.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31- And come through to the laboratory. - Thanks very much.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33So my hands, Katie's hands, your hands,
0:17:33 > 0:17:35they get dirty during the day.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39Obviously, one of the issues I have is the second I wash my hands,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42I'll clean them, dry them, put them straight on my wheels.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46Today, they've been on two trains, through the high streets,
0:17:46 > 0:17:50up through the lifts, through the bathrooms, and then I come in here.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53The risk of you getting something very nasty from that exposure
0:17:53 > 0:17:55is negligible.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58However, if you're going to go and eat some sandwiches,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01then you need to wash your hands.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Despite touching my wheels regularly,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06the professor says that, just like everybody else, the bacteria I
0:18:06 > 0:18:10pick up on my hands from my day to day environment are unlikely
0:18:10 > 0:18:12to make me ill.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14But when I do wash my hands, what should I use?
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Well, the university is going to run a little experiment for us to
0:18:19 > 0:18:23find out what's best out of antibacterial handwash,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26soap and water, and alcohol-based sanitiser.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28So we've got jelly in here,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32which has got nutrients for the bacteria, so we put the four fingers
0:18:32 > 0:18:35on there, lightly pressed, so we've just got an impression,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37- and then put your thumb in the middle.- Right, OK.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40First, we're going to test the levels of bacteria on our
0:18:40 > 0:18:44hands as they are now, having not washed them for a couple of hours.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45Katie next.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48- This way?- Yeah, perfect, and thumb in the middle.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50And now that's done,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53we're going to wash them and test for bacteria once again.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57Katie will be using antibacterial handwash to clean hers.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00I'll be using good old soap and water, and Professor Hawkey,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03an alcohol-based sanitiser gel.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Each of these work in a different way.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Soap and water washes the grime from your hands and hopefully the
0:19:08 > 0:19:09bacteria too.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12The antibacterial wash is similar,
0:19:12 > 0:19:16but with an antibacterial agent to kill the bacteria on your hands.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19And the alcohol-based sanitiser gel doesn't need any water and
0:19:19 > 0:19:22also directly kills the bacteria.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25We'll come back to get the results in a couple of days.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30So with two days to fill, Katie's keen to get to the bottom of the
0:19:30 > 0:19:34claims that washing our hands with antibacterial soap might
0:19:34 > 0:19:35actually be bad for us.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Ian Henderson is professor of microbial biology at
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Birmingham University, and he's concerned about the problems
0:19:44 > 0:19:47caused by applying hospital levels of hygiene to our homes.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53We know that with the over-use of antibiotics or the over-use
0:19:53 > 0:19:58of certain antibacterials that bacteria can become
0:19:58 > 0:20:03resistant to both the disinfectants as well as the antibiotics.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07So although antibacterials might help us individually kill germs
0:20:07 > 0:20:10around the house, when used on a mass scale,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13they can, in some cases, promote antibody resistance
0:20:13 > 0:20:17and increase the number of superbugs around.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21And Ian thinks they might also play a role in children's allergies.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Those children that live in uber clean environments,
0:20:24 > 0:20:28they don't get exposed just to environmental bacteria,
0:20:28 > 0:20:30they tend to suffer more with allergy.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33- READS:- Why you should NOT wash your hands.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Less soap could be a good thing for your health.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37You should not wash your hands? What?!
0:20:37 > 0:20:40I'm being told I should wash my child's hands all the time.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43It's these mixed messages that just cause all the confusion.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Crucially, Ian thinks our fear of bacteria is heightened
0:20:46 > 0:20:48by stories that don't differentiate
0:20:48 > 0:20:51between harmful and harmless bacteria.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55The majority of microbial life is harmless.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59You know, there are ten times more bacterial cells on and in your
0:20:59 > 0:21:01body than there are human cells.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03You're more germ than you are human.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06There are germs all over your skin, what you might call germs -
0:21:06 > 0:21:10microbes, fungi, bacteria, all over your skin.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15But how many bacterial cells were on our hands?
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Well, the samples are now ready and we are back with Professor Hawkey
0:21:18 > 0:21:20to find out the results.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Right, what did we find?
0:21:23 > 0:21:26So, Steve, let's start with you, and you had the plain soap.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Soap. Soap and water, I was.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30So that is your hand. So in fact your hands weren't that dirty.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32They're very typical, I would say.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35So there's no need for me to worry about my hands and how often
0:21:35 > 0:21:37they come into contact with my wheels,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40but what the professor says next really takes me by surprise.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44After washing, and again it is the same for both hands,
0:21:44 > 0:21:46what is your observation there?
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- There's more on there after washing. - Exactly.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Yep, there is more after washing.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55How can my hands possibly be dirtier after I wash them?
0:21:55 > 0:21:58You produce, on your skin, something called sebum.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01That's got some acids in it and other chemicals that
0:22:01 > 0:22:03inhibit the bacteria on your skin.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07When you wash your hands, you wash away that inhibitory substance.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08Well, I never!
0:22:08 > 0:22:12- So, my hands have really got their own antibacterial.- Yep.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15And that means that after washing them, I have washed away my
0:22:15 > 0:22:19natural antibacteria and more bacteria has been able to grow.
0:22:19 > 0:22:20Exactly.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22- Wow.- So you may say, "Why bother to wash your hands?"
0:22:22 > 0:22:27If you have viruses and spores of that C diff hospital organism,
0:22:27 > 0:22:29then they will be washed away.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32I have to admit, I am blown away by what Professor Hawkey
0:22:32 > 0:22:35has just told me. Time to see if Katie's results with the
0:22:35 > 0:22:38antibacterial wash turn up any more surprises.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Your hands were a little bit more dirty than Steve's.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42- Oh, no!- Don't worry.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45But that's... Nothing bad there, as you can see.
0:22:45 > 0:22:46That's the other hand there.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49That's dealing with a three-year-old for you.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Probably, yes. But what happened?
0:22:51 > 0:22:53So, you might think, "Well, we spent all that money on those
0:22:53 > 0:22:56- "antibacterial washes, they'll do some good."- Yeah.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59- Wow. So it looks like there is more there.- Yes.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Although there is an antibacterial substance in here,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05it gets washed away as you put it on.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08It's really surprising because a lot of these products claim
0:23:08 > 0:23:09to kill 99% of bacteria.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12So nothing on there, then, is actually a dangerous bacteria,
0:23:12 > 0:23:14- that's shown up on either of these plates?- It shouldn't be, no.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17They're very, very unlikely to be.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20So Katie's antibacterial hand wash is actually no more effective
0:23:20 > 0:23:24in killing general bacteria than the soap and water I used.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Time to see if the alcohol hand sanitizer fared any better at
0:23:27 > 0:23:28the job.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33- That's the result with the alcohol. - That's completely different.- It is.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37So, virtually wiped out. There are some bacteria coming through.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39The professor's hands had virtually
0:23:39 > 0:23:42no bacteria left on them after cleaning with the sanitizer.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44However, there is a downside.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48The alcohol not only killed any potentially bad bacteria but
0:23:48 > 0:23:52also the body's natural fatty acids that fight bacteria.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56So the soaps, both the soaps, have still left some bacteria on
0:23:56 > 0:23:59our hands, but you have got nothing at all, Professor.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02What's the difference between the soaps and the gel?
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Well, the soaps are physically removing bacteria and they're
0:24:05 > 0:24:08removing these fatty acids, but the alcohol hand rub,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10you have to remember, was designed for hospital use,
0:24:10 > 0:24:14where they needed something to quickly kill the bacteria
0:24:14 > 0:24:15on nurses' hands.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17We don't need that in the home.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20So, although you might be tempted to use the wash or alcohol gel
0:24:20 > 0:24:23for normal domestic use, unless someone in the house
0:24:23 > 0:24:26has a nasty bug you don't want to spread, it's really not necessary.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29And this advice Katie intends to follow from now onwards.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32I probably won't worry quite so much about some of the
0:24:32 > 0:24:36antibacterial products that make all of these claims and I'll try
0:24:36 > 0:24:39not to be quite so led by the TV adverts and the
0:24:39 > 0:24:42headlines that scare you into taking action.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44I was blown away by the results today.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Not only did I have more bacteria after I washed my hands,
0:24:48 > 0:24:49but it also turns out,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53soap and water is as good as pricier antibacterial washes and gels.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56And more importantly, when we look at the effects
0:24:56 > 0:25:00of bacteria-killing products being used in so many homes,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03there is some truth to the reports it's causing more harm than good.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09Still to come, are desk jobs damaging our health?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11You are more at risk of cancer, diabetes,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13of cardiovascular diseases.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22But first... Earlier, I asked whether technology was damaging our
0:25:22 > 0:25:26hearing, but there are claims that that is not the only harm our
0:25:26 > 0:25:30devices might be causing. Our love of screens is in the frame, too.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Three generations of screen users from the same family -
0:25:34 > 0:25:3784-year-old Great Aunt Dorothy,
0:25:37 > 0:25:4142-year-old mum Gaynor and her son, Leo, aged five.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43They might use their laptops, smartphones,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46tablets and TVs for different reasons, but they all have
0:25:46 > 0:25:49one thing in common - they're glued to them every day.
0:25:52 > 0:25:58The tablet is my favourite because it has games that nothing else does.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02The Black household is like many others, mine included.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08Like millions of people, I own a smartphone and a tablet,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11and I do spend quite a lot of every day looking at them.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15When you add to that my laptop and my television at home, clearly I
0:26:15 > 0:26:19spend many hours of every day looking at one screen or another.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22And frankly, I'd be lost without any of them.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25In fact, we spend on average a reported 5 1/2 hours
0:26:25 > 0:26:27a day on our tablets and smartphones,
0:26:27 > 0:26:32but read some stories and you'll see claims that our screen habits
0:26:32 > 0:26:35are doing serious damage to our eyes and causing record
0:26:35 > 0:26:39levels of slight loss in screen-addicted children,
0:26:39 > 0:26:41who hardly venture out of the house.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46But these warnings don't seem to bother some people.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51How long during the day do you think you spend looking at a screen?
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- About four hours. - Probably about six.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56I know that I am spending too much time in front of a screen.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59It's just you can't avoid it these days.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Do you worry about any damage that the screen might be
0:27:01 > 0:27:03doing to your eyes and your eyesight?
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Not really. No.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07- Stella has now got glasses and I need them too.- Yes.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09I've been diagnosed with migraine before.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12The doctor, like, he told me that I have to reduce the time I spend
0:27:12 > 0:27:14on my cellphone especially.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Clearly, lots of us worry about the effect of screens on our eyes,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21so with the help of the Black family,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24I'm going to find out whether our screen habits are actually
0:27:24 > 0:27:28quite as bad for us as some reports seem to suggest.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32Gaynor runs a children's party business from home and often
0:27:32 > 0:27:33spends much of the day online.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38I use the screen four to five hours a day, and that's mainly
0:27:38 > 0:27:42because of my business. I'm constantly checking e-mails.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46I have had that feeling when I have spent quite a few hours on
0:27:46 > 0:27:48the laptop, where it's just almost like,
0:27:48 > 0:27:50"Ugh, I just need to get away from the screen."
0:27:50 > 0:27:52It does get too much.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56- Do you want some juice, Leo? - Yes, please.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00After work, Gaynor switches screens, from her phone and laptop to
0:28:00 > 0:28:04her tablet, but only if five-year-old Leo isn't using it.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06He's very much sort of homed in.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09We'll see that he doesn't want to speak anyone,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12he is just absolutely focused on that screen, and that's it.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Great Aunt Dorothy doesn't have to worry about sharing her tablet
0:28:15 > 0:28:17with anyone.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19I have the iPad on in the evening.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22I also have the TV on in the evening,
0:28:22 > 0:28:25so it is kind of one eye on one, one eye and the other.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28One exception is Gaynor's partner,
0:28:28 > 0:28:31Barnaby, who actively tries to reduce his screen time
0:28:31 > 0:28:32outside of work.
0:28:32 > 0:28:37I use screens as probably half of the working day, so at least four
0:28:37 > 0:28:41hours a day, so when I come home, I very rarely look at them at all.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Over the next week, we're going to track how long the whole
0:28:44 > 0:28:47family spends on their screens, whether it is a laptop,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50tablet, smartphone, TV or games console.
0:28:50 > 0:28:56The question is, are their screen habits bad for their eyes?
0:28:56 > 0:28:59To find out more, I've come to meet Daniel Hardiman-McCartney
0:28:59 > 0:29:01from the College of Optometrists.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08Daniel, what actually happens to our eyes when we are focusing on
0:29:08 > 0:29:12a screen, be it a mobile phone, a tablet or a computer?
0:29:12 > 0:29:15So our eyes are designed to focus far away. And what happens is
0:29:15 > 0:29:19the muscles in the eyes change the shape of the lens in order to
0:29:19 > 0:29:23focus on a screen close-up. When people do use a screen for
0:29:23 > 0:29:24a long period of time,
0:29:24 > 0:29:26they can get eyestrain and discomfort,
0:29:26 > 0:29:28and that's relatively common.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31In fact, between 50% and 90% of people experience some degree of
0:29:31 > 0:29:34eyestrain, and that might be to do with the focusing.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36We blink less effectively,
0:29:36 > 0:29:38and that makes your eyes feel dry and sore.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41We think, at the moment, that actually the difference
0:29:41 > 0:29:43between the screen and a manuscript or a book
0:29:43 > 0:29:45actually isn't that different.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48Daniel says eyestrain is easily solved,
0:29:48 > 0:29:51but there's been more serious reports saying screens
0:29:51 > 0:29:55could be a major factor in short-sightedness in children.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57I think we are all using screens a lot more,
0:29:57 > 0:30:01and if we look at short-sightedness, in the 1960s,
0:30:01 > 0:30:03only about 7% of children were short-sighted,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05whereas recently, it's something like 16%.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08So more people are becoming short-sighted.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10But that has nothing to do with screens.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13Well, maybe not directly.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Daniel says short-sightedness is on the rise because children
0:30:16 > 0:30:18spend more time indoors,
0:30:18 > 0:30:23often on their screens, and less time outdoors in the sunshine.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28We know that being outside has a protective value,
0:30:28 > 0:30:31so by spending two hours each day outside in sunlight doing
0:30:31 > 0:30:33something, not using your screen,
0:30:33 > 0:30:37is likely to reduce your risk of being short-sighted.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40So it's the lack of sunlight rather than the screen time which is
0:30:40 > 0:30:42causing short-sightedness.
0:30:42 > 0:30:47But another worry is that the blue light emitted by screens may
0:30:47 > 0:30:49cause blindness.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51But Daniel says there is no cause for concern.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56Scientists have been concerned that blue light might be harmful
0:30:56 > 0:30:59because it has similar properties to UV light.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02But actually, the evidence suggests that the blue light
0:31:02 > 0:31:06emitted from screens is a lot less than that that you find in sunlight.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09There is no evidence that there will be harm.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13There is evidence that blue light can disrupt our sleep patterns,
0:31:13 > 0:31:15but according to Daniel,
0:31:15 > 0:31:19our only real worry about screens is eyestrain.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23Bottom line then, looking at a screen does not damage our eyes,
0:31:23 > 0:31:26- though it might strain them. - Absolutely.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29- And sunlight is good for our eyes. - Correct.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31Although, it is important to wear sunglasses when you're out
0:31:31 > 0:31:33in sunlight, which is the UV.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35So, there you have it from the expert.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39Screens won't cause the epidemic of blindness that has been claimed.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42However, they can strain your eyes.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44- Hello.- Hello.
0:31:44 > 0:31:45Back in Salford,
0:31:45 > 0:31:48It's time to catch up with the Black family to see how their
0:31:48 > 0:31:52screen time over the past week may have had an effect.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54Day one, the total was 140 minutes.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57How about you, Leo, what have you been up to?
0:31:57 > 0:31:59Playing on the iPad a lot.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03I think today's probably been the most screen time,
0:32:03 > 0:32:06just because I was going from one computer to laptop,
0:32:06 > 0:32:08to tablet, back to laptop.
0:32:10 > 0:32:15I think Gaynor would come out on top. The winner, if you like.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Or the loser, whichever way you look at it.
0:32:17 > 0:32:18At the end of the week,
0:32:18 > 0:32:22Daniel is paying them a visit to compare their screen time and help
0:32:22 > 0:32:25them all deal with any strain they might be causing to their eyes.
0:32:28 > 0:32:29Who do you think, Leo?
0:32:29 > 0:32:32Who do you think has been using the screen the most?
0:32:32 > 0:32:35- Me.- OK. Let's have a look at the results.
0:32:35 > 0:32:36- GAYNOR:- I think it might be me.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38- Yeah?- I'm at the bottom. Definitely.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Well, we topped up all the results and actually it
0:32:41 > 0:32:44was almost a joint first place with yourselves.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46Me? Rubbish!
0:32:47 > 0:32:49Much to everyone's surprise,
0:32:49 > 0:32:54Dorothy's screen time added up to about 37.5 hours for the week.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57That's three quarters of an hour more than Gaynor.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59THEY LAUGH
0:32:59 > 0:33:01What are you laughing at?
0:33:01 > 0:33:05And Gaynor's attempts to limit how long five-year-old Leo spends
0:33:05 > 0:33:08playing games on the tablet means he's clocked up just over 12 1/2
0:33:08 > 0:33:10hours for the week.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13The least... High-five, Leo.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17While none of those screen habits are known to do long-term
0:33:17 > 0:33:20damage, they could cause pain and irritation,
0:33:20 > 0:33:22so Daniel had some advice.
0:33:22 > 0:33:26The advice we give to everyone, that's useful, is the 20-20-20 rule,
0:33:26 > 0:33:29so that's for every 20 minutes that you are looking at a screen,
0:33:29 > 0:33:32you spend 20 seconds just away from it and looking at something
0:33:32 > 0:33:3420 ft away, or just outside the window
0:33:34 > 0:33:35or across the other side of the room.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38When you're taking the break, screwing up your eyes
0:33:38 > 0:33:40and having really big blinks can refresh your tears
0:33:40 > 0:33:41and make them feel more comfortable.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44There are different considerations for Dorothy.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46As the oldest in the family,
0:33:46 > 0:33:50her eyes will find it harder to react to changes in focus and
0:33:50 > 0:33:51they will strain more easily,
0:33:51 > 0:33:55so Daniel has got some dedicated tips for her, too.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58Were you using the screen more or less than you thought?
0:33:58 > 0:34:00- LAUGHS:- More than I thought.- More.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03There is a temptation to make things really small on the screen, so try
0:34:03 > 0:34:07and make the screen bigger, so it's really easy to see things,
0:34:07 > 0:34:10and you can do that just by pinching out or changing the
0:34:10 > 0:34:13option to make the text bigger, so it is easier to see.
0:34:13 > 0:34:18So, while there is no epidemic of blindness on the horizon,
0:34:18 > 0:34:21we shouldn't just take that as a reason to spend more time
0:34:21 > 0:34:23staring at our screens.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26Once again, spending more time outside rather than in the
0:34:26 > 0:34:30house is what is best for our health.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39Next, we read a lot about how our lifestyles are becoming
0:34:39 > 0:34:42more sedentary and how bad that might be for our health.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45But while that might conjure an image in your mind of someone who's
0:34:45 > 0:34:46stuck on the sofa with a bag of crisps...
0:34:46 > 0:34:50- I'll say!- ..in fact, the latest headlines suggest it's anyone
0:34:50 > 0:34:52sitting at a desk that could be at risk.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55I've been looking at some of those headlines, Kevin, and I tell you,
0:34:55 > 0:34:59anyone who does have a desk job is in for a pretty rude awakening.
0:34:59 > 0:35:04Sitting down makes you age by eight years, and in women it speeds
0:35:04 > 0:35:05up the ageing process.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08Do you know, Kevin, I think we should be standing up
0:35:08 > 0:35:09doing this programme.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11Well, just to get more of an understanding on this,
0:35:11 > 0:35:13I went to find out whether or not
0:35:13 > 0:35:16it's time we all stood up for our health.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21Like millions of office workers around the country,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24these colleagues in Brighton like to sit down an awful lot.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28I'm chained to my desk normally nine to five.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30Go home, sit on my sofa.
0:35:30 > 0:35:31I don't stand a lot at all.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34I'm really conscious of the fact that I sit at my desk a lot,
0:35:34 > 0:35:35so I do think about it.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38The only time I get up is for lunch or to go to the toilet.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42The World Health Organisation has branded physical inactivity as
0:35:42 > 0:35:45the fourth biggest killer in the world,
0:35:45 > 0:35:48and sitting down is proven to be a contributing factor to
0:35:48 > 0:35:51a wide range of conditions such as
0:35:51 > 0:35:53heart disease, diabetes and cancer,
0:35:53 > 0:35:57all information that has been very widely reported.
0:35:58 > 0:36:03Over the years, I've been an actor, dancer, personal trainer, amongst
0:36:03 > 0:36:07a few other things as well, but I've never really had a desk job.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09Now, if I'm to believe all of those headlines,
0:36:09 > 0:36:12then I should be feeling smug right now because I'll have
0:36:12 > 0:36:16a body that is fitter, stronger, younger, healthier.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20Professor John Buckley has spent four years looking into the activity
0:36:20 > 0:36:24of office workers, and he thinks I am right to feel a bit smug.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27Well, there has been quite a few large-scale studies in the
0:36:27 > 0:36:30past ten years looking at a strong link between those people who have
0:36:30 > 0:36:33jobs where they sit a lot and the incidence of things like
0:36:33 > 0:36:37diabetes and heart problems and strokes and obesity.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40People who spend more than six or seven hours
0:36:40 > 0:36:45a day seated tend to start developing these problems.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48John says around two thirds of the population spend more
0:36:48 > 0:36:51than 60% of their day seated, which is asking for trouble.
0:36:53 > 0:36:54How long is too long to sit down?
0:36:54 > 0:36:57You shouldn't be sat for more than an hour.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59If you could break it up throughout the day.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02Opening the blood vessels, getting that glucose flowing
0:37:02 > 0:37:04into the tissues on a frequent basis
0:37:04 > 0:37:07seems to bring the levels of those unhealthy things
0:37:07 > 0:37:10in the body down over the course of the day.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12Because it also increases our heart rate,
0:37:12 > 0:37:16standing up burns energy and gives you health benefits.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19To find out just how much energy it burns,
0:37:19 > 0:37:22John has fitted up our team with heart rate monitors to see the
0:37:22 > 0:37:25changes between standing up and sitting down.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29OK, Sophie, how much has yours gone up by? Is it going?
0:37:29 > 0:37:30- Yeah, it's going up now.- Going up?
0:37:30 > 0:37:33- Is yours going up? - Yeah, about five beats a minute.- OK.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36You're doubling your energy expenditure
0:37:36 > 0:37:37compared to sitting down.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41Now, that is 0.8 calories extra every minute, on average,
0:37:41 > 0:37:43that you are doing that.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46It doesn't seem much, but added up over a year and it comes to
0:37:46 > 0:37:49the equivalent of about eight pounds of fat of energy.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52John's challenging the team to reduce their sitting time
0:37:52 > 0:37:56over the next two days, so he has given them all activity monitors.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00On day one, the team will behave as normal.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04But on day two, they'll attempt to increase their standing time.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09Rather than use a big bottle of water, I could maybe use
0:38:09 > 0:38:12a little glass and just keep making more trips to the water machine.
0:38:12 > 0:38:14Rather than eating my lunch at my desk,
0:38:14 > 0:38:16I might just get up and go for a walk for the hour.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20I'm going to come back in a couple of days to see how much
0:38:20 > 0:38:22activity you've been doing.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26John has high hopes that the team can significantly reduce the
0:38:26 > 0:38:28percentage of time they spend inactive.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31And in this case, 70 is the magic number.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35The data shows that we start to see problems occur when people
0:38:35 > 0:38:39start to spend more than 70% of their waking hours seated.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43What I am hoping to see, and I haven't primed them at all on this,
0:38:43 > 0:38:48is whether they're sitting for less than 70% of their waking hours.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51It's not just office workers that could do with paying attention
0:38:51 > 0:38:55to how much time they spend on their backsides.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59GP Aisha Shareef says her surgery is full of people whose
0:38:59 > 0:39:01illnesses stem from a life spent sitting.
0:39:01 > 0:39:06I see this problems of a sedentary lifestyle day in, day out.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09The muscular support that you have, for example,
0:39:09 > 0:39:12in your spine is not that strong, so you have a weaker back,
0:39:12 > 0:39:15you're more prone to back injuries and back pain.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18And you are also... Interestingly, you can be more risk of
0:39:18 > 0:39:21things like constipation because you literally aren't moving those
0:39:21 > 0:39:25bowels, so we see this a lot in the elderly population.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29But some conditions can be more serious and even life-threatening.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32You are more at risk of cancer, diabetes,
0:39:32 > 0:39:37of course cardiovascular diseases like stroke, heart disease.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41Aisha's advice is clear, that we all need to get moving if we want
0:39:41 > 0:39:43to live a long and healthy life.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47So my advice would be definitely try to get a more active lifestyle,
0:39:47 > 0:39:49not through the big things,
0:39:49 > 0:39:52but through the little things that we can incorporate day-to-day -
0:39:52 > 0:39:54parking the car further from the entrance
0:39:54 > 0:39:58to a shop, for example, taking those stairs instead of hitting the
0:39:58 > 0:40:01elevator... Small things make a big difference.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06Back in Brighton, it is day two of the experiment, and some of
0:40:06 > 0:40:10the team are showing promise when it comes to increasing their activity.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14Here we are, beautiful, sunny day and I'm going to go for a walk.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17I'm just going to go on to the IT floor to speak to one of the IT
0:40:17 > 0:40:19guys instead of e-mailing him.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22Today, I've just been trying to keep coming up and down the stairs to
0:40:22 > 0:40:26give messages to people and talk to people rather than using the phones.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30I thought I would come over to use IT's standing desks to get off of my
0:40:30 > 0:40:31desk for a while.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34The next day, Professor Buckley returns to Brighton,
0:40:34 > 0:40:36and the results are in for his tests.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39- Welcome back.- Hi, John. - How did you find it?
0:40:39 > 0:40:41- Yeah, it was good.- Enjoyable.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44So what we are going to do is we're going to look at the results.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47The team were assessed for how much of both their working day and
0:40:47 > 0:40:49their whole day they were sitting.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53The more they can reduce their time toward the 70% target,
0:40:53 > 0:40:55the more they will decrease their chances of developing some
0:40:55 > 0:40:58cancers, heart disease and diabetes.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00First up, it's the working day.
0:41:00 > 0:41:07So, the average sitting time at work reduced from 430 minutes in
0:41:07 > 0:41:12the day, which is about 85% of your working hours, down to about 364,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15which is about 75% of your working hours.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18That is good, you're getting towards that 70% target.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21So there is still room for improvement whilst at work.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23But across the whole waking day,
0:41:23 > 0:41:26the team have broken below the magic 70.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29You actually have become more healthy in terms of the
0:41:29 > 0:41:34activity. On average 83%, as a team, you were spending sitting down.
0:41:34 > 0:41:41I put a red line here, which is our target, and you're down to 64%.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44So all of the team have done well across their whole day,
0:41:44 > 0:41:47but they are still way off when it comes to work.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50The experiment has been a wake-up call, though,
0:41:50 > 0:41:52and they are now sold on the idea of standing more.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57I'm going to make sure I stand up when I am on the phone.
0:41:57 > 0:41:58Yeah. Steve?
0:41:58 > 0:42:01I think I'll continue to go out at lunchtime and try and be on my
0:42:01 > 0:42:04feet for the whole hour rather than eat my lunch sitting down.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Get away from the office for lunch. And maybe one day it
0:42:07 > 0:42:11will become more habit rather than you having to consciously think
0:42:11 > 0:42:12about it.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16It seems many of those reports were right and we just don't have any
0:42:16 > 0:42:20idea how sedentary our lifestyles are or the impact it could have
0:42:20 > 0:42:23on our health, but simple lifestyle changes could help
0:42:23 > 0:42:26us all get under that crucial 70%.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30I think the overall general message is really never to be on your
0:42:30 > 0:42:33backside for more than an hour at a time.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43You know, Kevin, ever since I made that film about screens,
0:42:43 > 0:42:45- and headphones in particular... - Yeah.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47..I have really been extra careful
0:42:47 > 0:42:49with my own gadgets, but I have to admit,
0:42:49 > 0:42:52every time I walk down the street and I see someone with
0:42:52 > 0:42:56headphones on, I do worry about how loud their music is and what
0:42:56 > 0:42:58damage they might be doing to their ears.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01You know, working on this series has really opened my eyes, too.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03No pun intended, by the way.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06But it is at least good to know that not all the headlines about
0:43:06 > 0:43:10how bad the latest technology is for our eyes are true and there are
0:43:10 > 0:43:12ways to avoid really straining your eyes.
0:43:12 > 0:43:16But don't worry, that means you can watch our programme as much as you
0:43:16 > 0:43:18like, which is what exactly what I hope you will do
0:43:18 > 0:43:19when we return next time.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22- Until then, though, from both of us....- Bye-bye.- Bye-bye.