Can gaming affect your health?

Gaming has gained tremendous popularity, particularly among young people. Teenagers, in particular, spend a lot of their time playing video games as a way to unwind from school stress, and while this activity has its benefits, it’s important to note that too much gaming can have negative effects on your health.

In this blog, we dive into some of the gaming-related health issues and how to avoid them and continue playing games safely. Read on!

Musculoskeletal issues

Musculoskeletal issues are one of the biggest problems associated with gaming and can include repetitive strain injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, and pain in the hands and wrists. Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when pressure is applied to the hand’s median nerve, which has the role of controlling fine motor skills like moving hand muscles and fingers. The symptoms of this issue include tingling, numbness, pain and weakness in the fingers and the hands. The good news is that it’s possible to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome as well as other musculoskeletal problems.

If you generally play games on your PC, one helpful recommendation is to elevate the wrists to be level with the mouse and keyboard, thus preventing the nerve from being trapped by allowing circulation throughout the hand and wrist. Consider using a small, soft cushion to support the elevation and ensure a comfortable wrist position. If, on the other hand, you are a console gamer, it’s helpful to open and close your hand frequently between sessions and also to bend your wrist forward and backward. All these exercises are meant to enable the flow of circulation through the wrist while also ensuring movement for the median nerve.

Eye strain, vision issues and headaches

Staring at the screen for an extended time can lead to vision problems, eye strain, and headaches. To counter these symptoms, it is essential to take frequent breaks from playing games. Consider the 20-20-20 rule, which suggests that you should take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at an object that is located 20 feet away from you. Moreover, to prevent eye issues and headaches, it’s recommended to take breaks for a longer time from the screen (for around 15 minutes or so).

Since blue light can harm your eyesight and cause eye issues, using a blue light filter on the video console or PC can be a good idea – many TV monitors and laptops have a built-in feature that allows you to adjust the amount of blue light. However, you also have the option of wearing blue-light filtering glasses or purchasing protective glass screens.

Gamer neck

Gamer neck, or nerd neck, can happen due to poor posture when gaming. Leaning your neck forward for an extended period can keep you in an unnatural position and cause neck stiffness and pain, and even back pain. These issues may linger longer after you’ve stopped playing the game.

But the good news is that you can overcome the gamer’s neck by being mindful of your sitting position while playing. It can be a good idea to use a specialized ergonomic gaming chair that keeps your back straight and encourages adequate posture while also allowing you to sit comfortably. Another effective way to relieve pain, tension, and stiffness accumulated due to poor posture is to regularly stretch your neck, arms, and back every hour or so.

Hearing loss

Hearing loss can be life-changing, impacting many areas of your life. In some cases, this issue can be a consequence of medical negligence, causing a lot of emotional pain to the victims. In such instances, compensation can be sought, and it’s possible to find information online on how are nhs negligence payouts calculated. However, hearing loss can also happen because of extensive exposure to loud music and noises while gaming. This is especially true if the games involve sudden noises, like fighting and action games. But the issue is preventable in this case, by keeping the volume levels lower and playing sound via speakers rather than using headphones. If there’s no option but to use headphones, our recommendation is to opt for over-ear headphones rather than in-ear headphones, as they prevent the sound from traveling to the ear canal, ensuring the sound has more space to reverberate. Besides, their noise cancellation features are also better in general, which helps reduce external noise so that there won’t be a need to set the volume too high.

As a general rule, you should keep it between 50% and 60% of the maximum volume capacity. Many devices have a built-in feature that warns you if you exceed the recommended volume level, so make sure not to disable it. It can protect your hearing in case you ever feel tempted to exceed the recommended volume.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a common issue for players who have a disrupted sleep schedule. Playing late or right before bedtime translates into fewer sleeping hours; besides, if you play for an extended period of time (particularly during the evening or nighttime), switching off when going to bed can be difficult because of video games’ sensory stimulation.

To prevent this issue, try to create a routine when gaming. While this may involve some restrictions, it will be beneficial in the long run, allowing you to feel more energetic when playing and in general. You can also limit your gaming hours or play games at a specific time each day, reducing the risk of health issues and feeling more invigorated throughout the rest of the day.

Obesity and blood clots

Sedentarism is associated with a higher risk of obesity and blood clots. Sitting for extended periods can interrupt circulation, which causes clots to form, especially in the legs. This can lead to complications that can be life-threatening. Hence, it’s important to do your best and try to prevent them from developing.

You can do that by taking regular breaks from gaming every 90 minutes and walking around, which will enable healthy blood flow throughout the body. Don’t worry—it doesn’t have to be a long walk; just a five-minute trip to the kitchen would be enough to help mitigate this issue.

Also, be conscious of your leg position when gaming—tucking your legs behind or underneath you or crossing them is something to avoid, as it can restrict blood flow. To reduce blood clot risk, remember to stretch your legs out as much as you can.

The bottom line

While gaming can be fun and beneficial in certain ways, it can also lead to health problems if you aren’t mindful of how much time you’re spending playing, as well as other things discussed in the article. Make sure to follow the recommendations mentioned above to have a safe and enjoyable gaming experience.