Though this ailment is often called "Playstation Thumb," the condition
can affect anyone who uses a game with a d-pad controller. Symptoms of
“PlayStation Thumb” include numbness and tingling in the thumb and
large, open blisters caused by repetitive motion that require weeks to
heal.
Another term for this condition is "Palmar hidradenitis," a
skin disorder induced by console gaming. Painful lesions on the palms
and fingers are the main features.
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Nintendinitis, Wiiitis, and X-boxitis
"Nintendonitis" has been used to describe tendon injuries (tendinosis)
of the hands and wrists. Users have reported stress injuries from
playing games such as Wii Sports for too long. Serious injuries caused
by playing in tight spaces can also occur.
The Wii balance board
causes a lot of injuries by itself, including knee and hip problems and
fractures resulting from a fall, dubbed "Wii fractures" by health care
providers.
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Seizures
Playing video games can, in rare cases, trigger seizures, but there is
no scientific evidence that video games can cause
traditionally-classified epilepsy. Photosensitive epilepsy (PSE),
however, is a common form of epilepsy in which seizures are triggered by
visual stimuli that form patterns in time or space, such as flashing
lights, bold, regular patterns, or regular moving patterns.
(Link | Photo)
Addiction
Yes, you can get addicted to playing video games. Video game addiction
is an impulse control disorder, similar to compulsive gambling.
Symptons include weight loss or gain, lack of personal hygiene, lowered
social interaction and a disrupted sleep pattern.
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Aggressive Behavior and Mental Problems
Studies show that “pathological,” or obsessive, video gamers are more
depressed and anxious over time than non-gamers. Children are at risk
of becoming more impulsive, socially awkward, and more likely to become
addicted to gaming over time. Some warning signs include trouble
concentrating, disrupted sleep patterns, increased anxiety, increased
irrational anger, and social phobias.
Kids who play violent games
also tend to have more aggressive fantasies and engage in more
aggressive behaviors. They are more likely to be victims of aggression,
as well.
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The Tetris Effect/Game Transfer Phenomena
This phenomenon can occur after playing any game for a long time, but
Tetris is the most common culprit. Users say that after playing the
game for many hours, they unintentionally transfer elements of the game
content, or the interface, into their everyday lives. For instance,
users may start to see falling blocks everywhere, or may start to
fantasize about which Tetris blocks would fit into a city skyline.
Sometimes the images take over sufferer's thought processes, mental
imagery, and dreams.
In extreme cases, people have reported
having car accidents because they were busy focusing on falling blocks
that were not really there.
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Vision Problems
Video games can cause vision problems. Extensive viewing of any screen
causes eye strain, and prolonged computer use could also be linked to
glaucoma, especially among users who are near-sighted. Staring at a
bright screen is very harmful to the physical components of the eye,
especially because during computing sessions we tend to stop blinking
and start staring, which makes our eyes strain and dry out.
A
common vision problem among gamers is known as "Guitar Hero/Rock Band
Eyes." This is similar to the Tetris Effect because it involves seeing
the graphic interface burned into your retinas long after you've stopped
playing.
(Link 1 | Link 2 | Photo)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused when the main nerve between the forearm
and hand is repeatedly squeezed or pressed. This pressure occurs when
the carpal tunnel, the area of the wrist that houses the main nerve and
tendons, becomes irritated or swollen. Computer use has long been
linked to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, so it's no surprise that it's a
physical symptom of gaming addiction. Overuse of a computer mouse can
cause such irritation and swelling, as can excessive use of a video game
controller.
(ViaPhoto)
Migraines
A migraine headache can cause intense throbbing or pulsing in one area
of the head and is commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme
sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause severe pain
for hours to days. While there are countless triggers for migraines,
people who play video games for extended periods of time are more prone
to these headaches because of the intense concentration required while
gaming, as well as the strain put on the eyes by staring at a bright
screen.
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Death
Players can easily get immersed and feel compelled to play for hours at a
stretch. Case in point, a 28-year-old man collapsed after playing the
game "Starcraft" at an internet cafe in the city of Taegu, South Korea
in 2007. According to authorities, the man had not slept, had eaten
very little, and had taken hardly any bathroom breaks during his 72 hour
marathon gaming session.
"We presume the cause of death was
heart failure stemming from exhaustion," a Taegu provincial police
official told the Reuters news agency.
Aside from health problems that can lead to death, many
gamers have also died as a result of suicide and game-related murders.
(Link | Photo)
Playstation Thumb
