Love them or hate them, video games are a part of our lives. There’s a lot of conflicting
information on the effects of video games on health. Studies link it to eye strain, obesity, and even seizures. While neurological and psychological testing suggests that certain types of games can increase neuroplasticity, promote hand eye coordination, and even treat trauma.
However, too much of a good thing is almost always bad for you. Between your phone, your work computer, and electronics at home, there’s always a screen available, and that can take its toll. Kids and adolescents are uniquely susceptible to video game addiction, but if you’re finding yourself spending hours in front of a screen, there are a few things you should watch out for.
1. Eye Strain
Eye strain is an ongoing problem with our addiction to screens. It has even been given a name in the medical profession: Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS. CVS is caused by the burden placed on our eyes from being in front of a screen too long. It can cause eye strain, pain, blurred vision, headaches and shoulder aches. It can occur during any prolonged screen time, but is more likely in video games, because of the rapid changes in lighting, wrong viewing angle or viewing distance, and we tend to be hyper-focused while playing.
It’s normal to get up and take breaks during a work session at a computer, and your takesphone only a few minutes at a time to check. But video games can transfix you for hours. To avoid eye strain, take breaks, keep your lights on while you play, and sit at a safe distancedfrom the device.
2. Obesity
Several studies over the years have linked video games to inactivity and obesity. Again, the distracting and some would say addicting qualities can keep you sitting for hours at a time.
Since we’re already increasing our sitting time, between desks at work or school, or on commute, choosing a hobby where you’re physically inactive raises all the health risk associated with an inactive lifestyle.
Newer video games, like Virtual Reality and the Wii offered by Nintendo, look to help this growing problem by getting you moving while you play. Another way to get some workout in is to sneak in some desk exercises behind your console. A little done consistently goes a long way! But nothing’s better than getting fresh air and real exercise. Be sure to spend time
in the great outdoors, away from the screen, on a daily basis.
3. Disrupting Your Melatonin Production
All your screens are default set to imitate sunlight. This is great to protect against the eye strain we talked about, but not so good for your brain. Your body works to an internal clock, called a biorhythm. Exposure to sunlight and real nighttime are both important for maintaining that rythm. One of the things it’s good for is the production of melatonin, which tells your body when to sleep. If your body doesn’t get enough sleep, or your biorhythm disrupts your sleep pattern, you can experience headaches, disturbed sleep, and insomnia. The best way to combat this problem, is to turn your screens off at night, so you don’t confuse your brain with the sight of artificial LED “sunlight.”
4. Seizures
While seizures as a direct result of video games are rare, they do happen. People with epilepsy should never spend hours in front of a screen, since flashing lights and noises are well-documented triggers of seizures. Children who have undiagnosed epilepsy are just asas like to be triggered, which can be very dangerous. If you’re someone who suffers migraines, spending hours in front of a screen with flashing lights may also cause migraine headaches.
5. Muscle Pains
Because of stooping, sitting too close or at the wrong angle in front of the gaming console, and intense concentration, can lead to severe muscle strains. There’s even a condition called Nintendotitis! Dutch researchers first discovered the problems with prolonged gaming causing neck strain, wrist strain, and even carpal tunnel, thanks to hours of improper sittingsand straining the muscles. Depending on the controllers you use, you can also get “twitching thumbs”, which involves involuntary movements of your thumbs.
6. Changes In Your Brain
The effects of our media-driven, technological world have been well documented. We have shorter attention spans, and shorter memories. We get bored easier, thanks to constant stimulation. For people with addictive personalities, the online world, and video games iniparticular can be a hazard. Technology seems to have hijacked our dopamine receptors, which is the happy hormone in our brain.
With video games, doctors have seen a pattern similar to people with gambling addictions:
Low impulse control, and a neurological pattern that indicates an unbalanced reward system.
It’s not exactly getting high on a video game victory, but it’s not far off, either. And remember that theory that violence in video games would desensitize us? It turns out a person addicted to video games has a lowered threshold for stress, and tends to become aggressive overtime and exposure. It can also cause severe concentration problems, eating problems, even
depression. Which leads me to the last point.
7. Social Isolation
Staying inside playing video games has a profound effect on your social development. We contact, day to day, with people. Even as adults, we are constantly updating and relearning social patterns and behaviors. Sitting alone in the dark with a gaming console for hours also affects your melatonin levels, which I mentioned above. That can lead to depression, which encourages you to stay home, even when you’d rather be out. But there are ways to make gaming a social experience. And no, I don’t mean online! Invite friends
over. Talking with others as you are engaged in a mutual activity, will keep your social abilities sharp, and also encourage you to take breaks between games, to be more active together.
Video games and video screens are a big part of our lives in the information age. The
internet has given us access to information, changed the way the think, and our day to day life. But for all the rewards, there are risks. There’s nothing wrong with video games as a hobby. But as a sedentary pastime, it comes with all the health risks associated with obesity.
There’s also a risk of it changing your brain. Sometimes, this is good, like the improved
hand-eye coordination, or the neuroplasticity that encourages growth in the brain.
Sometimes, though, it can have serious consequences, like disrupted sleep, depression, and social isolation. Video games, like anything else, should always be enjoyed in moderation.
Keep your lights on, sit comfortably, and make sure to take breaks and get some fresh air!
information on the effects of video games on health. Studies link it to eye strain, obesity, and even seizures. While neurological and psychological testing suggests that certain types of games can increase neuroplasticity, promote hand eye coordination, and even treat trauma.
However, too much of a good thing is almost always bad for you. Between your phone, your work computer, and electronics at home, there’s always a screen available, and that can take its toll. Kids and adolescents are uniquely susceptible to video game addiction, but if you’re finding yourself spending hours in front of a screen, there are a few things you should watch out for.
1. Eye Strain
Eye strain is an ongoing problem with our addiction to screens. It has even been given a name in the medical profession: Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS. CVS is caused by the burden placed on our eyes from being in front of a screen too long. It can cause eye strain, pain, blurred vision, headaches and shoulder aches. It can occur during any prolonged screen time, but is more likely in video games, because of the rapid changes in lighting, wrong viewing angle or viewing distance, and we tend to be hyper-focused while playing.
It’s normal to get up and take breaks during a work session at a computer, and your takesphone only a few minutes at a time to check. But video games can transfix you for hours. To avoid eye strain, take breaks, keep your lights on while you play, and sit at a safe distancedfrom the device.
2. Obesity
Several studies over the years have linked video games to inactivity and obesity. Again, the distracting and some would say addicting qualities can keep you sitting for hours at a time.
Since we’re already increasing our sitting time, between desks at work or school, or on commute, choosing a hobby where you’re physically inactive raises all the health risk associated with an inactive lifestyle.
Newer video games, like Virtual Reality and the Wii offered by Nintendo, look to help this growing problem by getting you moving while you play. Another way to get some workout in is to sneak in some desk exercises behind your console. A little done consistently goes a long way! But nothing’s better than getting fresh air and real exercise. Be sure to spend time
in the great outdoors, away from the screen, on a daily basis.
3. Disrupting Your Melatonin Production
All your screens are default set to imitate sunlight. This is great to protect against the eye strain we talked about, but not so good for your brain. Your body works to an internal clock, called a biorhythm. Exposure to sunlight and real nighttime are both important for maintaining that rythm. One of the things it’s good for is the production of melatonin, which tells your body when to sleep. If your body doesn’t get enough sleep, or your biorhythm disrupts your sleep pattern, you can experience headaches, disturbed sleep, and insomnia. The best way to combat this problem, is to turn your screens off at night, so you don’t confuse your brain with the sight of artificial LED “sunlight.”
4. Seizures
While seizures as a direct result of video games are rare, they do happen. People with epilepsy should never spend hours in front of a screen, since flashing lights and noises are well-documented triggers of seizures. Children who have undiagnosed epilepsy are just asas like to be triggered, which can be very dangerous. If you’re someone who suffers migraines, spending hours in front of a screen with flashing lights may also cause migraine headaches.
5. Muscle Pains
Because of stooping, sitting too close or at the wrong angle in front of the gaming console, and intense concentration, can lead to severe muscle strains. There’s even a condition called Nintendotitis! Dutch researchers first discovered the problems with prolonged gaming causing neck strain, wrist strain, and even carpal tunnel, thanks to hours of improper sittingsand straining the muscles. Depending on the controllers you use, you can also get “twitching thumbs”, which involves involuntary movements of your thumbs.
6. Changes In Your Brain
The effects of our media-driven, technological world have been well documented. We have shorter attention spans, and shorter memories. We get bored easier, thanks to constant stimulation. For people with addictive personalities, the online world, and video games iniparticular can be a hazard. Technology seems to have hijacked our dopamine receptors, which is the happy hormone in our brain.
With video games, doctors have seen a pattern similar to people with gambling addictions:
Low impulse control, and a neurological pattern that indicates an unbalanced reward system.
It’s not exactly getting high on a video game victory, but it’s not far off, either. And remember that theory that violence in video games would desensitize us? It turns out a person addicted to video games has a lowered threshold for stress, and tends to become aggressive overtime and exposure. It can also cause severe concentration problems, eating problems, even
depression. Which leads me to the last point.
7. Social Isolation
Staying inside playing video games has a profound effect on your social development. We contact, day to day, with people. Even as adults, we are constantly updating and relearning social patterns and behaviors. Sitting alone in the dark with a gaming console for hours also affects your melatonin levels, which I mentioned above. That can lead to depression, which encourages you to stay home, even when you’d rather be out. But there are ways to make gaming a social experience. And no, I don’t mean online! Invite friends
over. Talking with others as you are engaged in a mutual activity, will keep your social abilities sharp, and also encourage you to take breaks between games, to be more active together.
Video games and video screens are a big part of our lives in the information age. The
internet has given us access to information, changed the way the think, and our day to day life. But for all the rewards, there are risks. There’s nothing wrong with video games as a hobby. But as a sedentary pastime, it comes with all the health risks associated with obesity.
There’s also a risk of it changing your brain. Sometimes, this is good, like the improved
hand-eye coordination, or the neuroplasticity that encourages growth in the brain.
Sometimes, though, it can have serious consequences, like disrupted sleep, depression, and social isolation. Video games, like anything else, should always be enjoyed in moderation.
Keep your lights on, sit comfortably, and make sure to take breaks and get some fresh air!
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