What happens if you play computer games for a long time, what happens to the human body during video games

How many hours a day do professional cyber athletes spend in front of a computer? How does it affect their health?

Let’s find out together with a doctor and a game blogger.

Cybersports can rightfully claim the main prize of any award in the category “discovery of the year”. And it is not by chance. Interest in computer games is growing relentlessly, on average by 23-25% per year. Even local tournaments are ready to compete with classic sports competitions in terms of ratings. Let’s talk about international championships on Dota 2 and CS:GO.

Perhaps one of the reasons for such interest in the games is the fabulous prize pool, which sometimes seems to have no limits. Another is the riot of colors and large-scale action, which takes place on not always “ice rinks”. Just during such an event, at The International 2021, Team Spirit won with a score of 3:2. This allowed the CIS team to take away with them the winnings of $18.2 million (1.3 billion rubles).

Public opinion was divided. Some even had no doubts why these guys were able to win. Others condemned computer games even more, believing that great athletes and Olympic champions could be lost because of it. The fact remains undisputed: like any top-level sport, cybersports affects the body and health. Don’t know how? We tell you.

gamer, game blogger

Cybersports has undeniable benefits: it develops visual memory, fine motor skills, reaction speed, strategic and spatial thinking, and improves cognitive abilities and teamwork skills.

Professional players devote a whole day to cyber sports: from 8 to 10 and sometimes up to 12 hours. Therefore, even with adherence to the regimen and recommendations, such a regimen can have a negative impact on health.

In 2019, a study was conducted in the United States, in which student cybersports teams were interviewed. Thus, the most frequent complaint was eye fatigue – 56%, neck and back pain – 42%, wrist pain – 36% and arm pain – 32%. Meanwhile, 40% of those surveyed did not do any physical activity.

One of the most common injuries in cybersports is carpal tunnel syndrome. A person feels numbness (often in the thumb, index and middle fingers), pain in the wrists and hands, loss of dexterity and grip strength. To avoid the disease, athletes use special gloves and wristbands, and do exercises to stretch, strengthen the hand, reduce pressure and improve blood flow.

Speaking of computer games and cyber sports in general, it is worth recalling that the computer screen has its own effect on the eyes. The development of high technology, of course, has reduced the level of electromagnetic radiation from monitors, but the eyes will still be overstretched.

ophthalmologist of the highest category, chief doctor of the “Happy Look” optician network.

Professional cyber athletes and fans of playing computer games for a long time know very well how much discomfort the eyes can experience after a long session.

The fact is that during visual concentration the frequency of blinks is reduced to 4-5 times per minute. All this leads to a rapid “drying out” of the protective film of the eye. Also, in many apartments, the heating season has already begun, and hot radiators and heaters dry the air a lot, which also affects the eyes. Together these factors can provoke the syndrome of “dry eye”, which manifests itself in redness, itching and the feeling of a foreign body in the eye.

But you can protect yourself from unpleasant symptoms by following simple recommendations:

Periodically remind yourself to blink. Let it happen together with pressing a certain key or button, which should be engaged during the game.
Those who have already manifested “dry eye” syndrome, can get recommendations for special moisturizing drops or gels from an ophthalmologist.
Near the computer it is better to always keep drinking water – a large glass or bottle. Following a healthy drinking regimen helps keep the eye moisturized from the inside out.
Additional protection for the eyes can be special glasses that will block the harmful effects of blue light from the screen.

From many studies, it is clear that the issue of maintaining health is extremely relevant among cyber athletes. This task is now a priority for coaches. Most teams have a certain daily regimen, nutrition, regular sports loads, breaks and rest. After all, these aspects affect not only health, but also the most important thing in the game – performance.