Since the XXI century, online games have become an integral part of our lives, taking an honorable position on a par with books and movies. So yeah, nowadays, the Internet is full of captivating and high-quality online games like never before. In a couple of clicks, you can find arcade games, life simulation games, massive multiplayer games, and, of course, online casino games that nowadays include many convenient and fast payment options. Players are offered to deposit via cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin or using traditional Visa and MasterCard options. Alternatively, if you are an active user of vouchers, you can enjoy the play at a Flexepin casino and so forth.
Scientists have long proven that online games have positive effects on the human body, improving reaction, logic, communication, mental abilities, etc.
However, in addition to the benefits, online games also indirectly impact human health. What exactly and how to prevent the harmful effects of the online game? Keep reading this article and find the answers!
The main problems encountered among gamers:
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Incorrect sitting position
- Improper diet
- Bad sleeping habits
- Stress
Sedentary Lifestyle
The problem is not specific to gamers, but that doesn’t make it less significant. Think about how much time you sit in front of the computer? Suppose you spent half a day at university or work. Of course, after a hard day, you want to relax and play online games with your friends, so the last 2 hours before going to bed, you enjoy the play and are pleased to go to bed for another 8 hours. So in total, you were active for only a few hours during the day. Needless to say, that’s not enough.
What are the consequences?
A sedentary lifestyle means that you burn very few calories, which leads to obesity. Also, a sedentary lifestyle makes your muscles barely develop, and that’s something doctors strongly advise you to avoid.
For example, from 1975 to 2016, the number of obese people worldwide increased more than threefold, making this disease the official problem of the 21st century.
What does obesity lead to?
- atherosclerosis;
- hypertension;
- coronary heart disease;
- myocardial infarction;
- varicose veins;
- diabetes mellitus;
- cholelithiasis;
- osteoarthritis;
- oncological disorders.
However, do not panic. You don’t need to suffer from such diseases, but the greater the degree of obesity, the greater the risk of further health problems. And, of course, you will not get arterial hypertension in one week, but be sure that if you do not take care of your health now, the risk of having it increases with every year.
Recommendations
To prevent such diseases, doctors advise people to start physical activities. For example, refrain from using the elevator and walking up the stairs; do not use cars or public transportation; walk to work/study, and if your work is far away, you can cover half or a third of the distance by foot. Also, remember that you can go to the gym or swimming pool. Bring your friends along so it will be easier for you to keep the regime. At least 2-3 times of active physical activity per week will be enough. If you have enough willpower, then try to exercise at home.
Incorrect Sitting Position
Have you ever noticed the posture in which you sit in front of the computer? Most likely, you do it incorrectly, which in turn harms not only the spine but also has indirect effects on the respiratory and genitourinary systems, as well as on the eyes.
What can an incorrect sitting position lead to?
Sitting in the wrong position in front of the computer for years, you can get several problems arising from each other: the formation of intervertebral hernias, damage to the spinal cord, and constant pain in the lower back.
In addition, you can also get scoliosis, which leads to a deformity of the thorax and breathing problems.
The curvature of the cervical spine is another common problem of a sedentary lifestyle that contributes to osteochondrosis. Also, circulation may be impaired in some cases, causing regular headaches.
Recommendations
It is much easier to follow one simple rule here than to deal with the problems described in the paragraphs above – you just need to sit correctly while playing games or working at the computer. On the Internet, there are many pictures and tips on the correct sitting position; take a look and follow them.
Tips:
- the legs above the knee should be flat on the seat;
- the legs must be bent at the knees at an angle of 90 degrees;
- the feet should be at a 90-degree angle to the shin and touch the floor with the whole foot;
- the back should be at the angle of 100-135 degrees relative to the feet (if possible);
- arms should be pressed against the sides of the torso;
- the shoulders and neck should be relaxed;
- eyes should be able to see the screen comfortably without stretching, lowering, or straining the neck and eyes.
Eyesight
Keep in mind that modern monitors do not cause eye damage. This effect was observed only in the first monitors used many years ago. However, spending a long time at the computer does tire the eyes, resulting in the tension of the ciliary muscle, which is responsible for the ability to see at different distances. Although doctors say that the computer cannot cause myopia in adults, such an effect may occur among children. In addition, our eyeballs are constantly drying out because we rarely blink, looking in amazement at the screen and following the game.
Recommendations
Try to control your posture, sit in a comfortable chair, and take breaks to rest your eyes and warm up your whole body. If your chair does not have a built-in cushion, put a self-made cushion behind your lower back to help you maintain the correct posture. Don’t forget to blink and buy moisturizing eye drops.
For those who like to play with headphones to immerse themselves in the game as much as possible, it is recommended not to make the volume too high; otherwise, it can impair hearing.
Improper Diet
Commonly, due to the lack of time or other reasons, we order fast food and eat right in front of the computer during play. It’s no secret that fast food is not healthy and leads to obesity. The same improper diet causes an excess of cholesterol, which triggers the formation of atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension. Excess salt and spices in food lead to edema, while excess sugar results in obesity and, in a critical situation, diabetes mellitus.
Recommendations
No worries, you don’t have to go vegetarian from tomorrow to be healthy. Just try to reduce the use of fast food as much as possible, cook for yourself, drink enough water, and introduce fish, vegetables, and fruits into your diet. Also, eat 3-4 times a day and break the habit of eating at the computer to avoid overeating.
Bad Sleeping Habits
No matter how fascinating online games are, always make a choice in favor of a good rest; otherwise, you will face lower immunity, chronic fatigue, insomnia, irritability, and loss of concentration caused by poor sleep.
Recommendations
Physiology tells us that we should sleep 7-9 hours a night and go to bed before 1 am, as this is the peak of rhodopsin protein and melatonin hormone production, which regulate our sleep. If you have already disrupted your sleep schedule, restore it gradually by going to bed half an hour or an hour earlier during the week until you reach the optimal bedtime. In addition, avoid drinking coffee in the afternoon and try to eat magnesium foods, such as spinach, beans, carrots, etc.
Please note that taking sleeping pills does not solve the problem but can be addictive.
Stress
Here comes the last but no less important issue among gamers. Unlike other problems, online games have the most direct influence on stress. Stress is a body’s response to extreme conditions that disturb the human emotional balance.
Sometimes online games can play the role of a long-term irritant that depletes the body’s resources, leading to neurosis or psychosis. And what if, in total, games have kept you stressed for hundreds or thousands of hours? That’s a lot, isn’t it? Well, that’s because the effect of some games changes not for the better as time passes. For example, the players’ anger may intensify, and the joy of winning decreases as time passes.
Consequently, you become too nervous and start stress eating, smoking cigarettes, and perhaps even drinking to unwind.
Overall, as you have realized, stress is a very unhealthy condition, not only for your mental health but also for your physical state. It can affect the heart and digestive organs, as well as lead to depression and other mental illnesses.
Recommendations
Don’t be nervous! Remember that these are just online games, so take it easy. Take breaks for walks with friends, cooking, and sports.
Conclusion
Hopefully, all the gamers who have read this article learned something valuable from it, and these tips will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle even if you have a gaming hobby!
