Gaming can actually cause you Physical Harm

Gaming can be very captivating and loads of fun.  Often it is tempting to play for long hours without interruptions.

If you and/or your kids are heavily into gaming (for long periods of time without moving or stretching) you should be aware of the potential silent danger of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Every gamer should take regular breaks during their gaming sessions, get up every hour at least and engage in some foot and leg exercises to minimize the risk of getting a blood clot, which can be a very serious matter and in the worst case cause death.

The unfortunate facts are that there have been several reported deaths of die-hard gamers that have made the headlines in recent years. For example in Korea individuals have died from blood clots after intense hours of uninterrupted gaming in Internet cafes.  Some countries in Asia are viewing such online gaming addiction as an “urgent” matter for public health.  Several research studies have also confirmed that internet gaming addiction is real and that approximately 10% of gamers are seriously affected by this phenomenon.

In this article we will not join the discussion on whether online or video gaming is good or bad for you and whether or not or how it should be regulated in different ways.  The emphasis here shall strictly be on the fact that gaming for long hours while sitting virtually immobile can be dangerous to your health.  The danger lies in the potentially drastic slowing of the blood circulation which can create the perfect storm for the formation of blood clots in the deeper veins of the legs, which can break lose upon standing and when movement is finally resumed.  Blood clots that break lose in the legs can rapidly travel through the heart to the lungs and become lodged; ultimately causing the potentially fatal condition of a pulmonary embolism.

Compression Stockings can be a Life Saver for Gamers

To minimize the potential of such peril, every “marathon” gamer should consider wearing compression socks or stockings with graduated compression for added protection against deep vein thrombosis (blood clots).

It is generally not a good idea to sit or stand still for long periods of time.  Whenever possible, get up at least every hour to exercise your legs.  For additional tips and quick exercises on how to stimulate circulation in your legs please follow the link below and read our post

“Tips for Preventing Economy Class Syndrome or Coach Class Syndrome as a Result of Long Distance Air Travel”

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