Online gaming is now the new deal. People love and are gradually adopting this gaming method because of its ease of access and convenience. For instance, you can access the best online poker rooms in CA or play your favorite virtual competitive games with other gamers across the world from the comfort of your room and money. It is that easy, and the gaming experience remains the same, if not better.
Despite the great experience gamers derive from online gaming, some people have often thought the activities could be detrimental to an individual’s health in various ways. However, this is not the truth, as it will be shown in this article.
Sure, the fear of online gamers becoming addicted, lethargic, antisocial, and depressed, among other things, is real. But then, you would have to admit that gaming is an essential aspect of their lifestyle. Since this lifestyle is continuous, just like exercise, it has some health benefits. In the next paragraphs, we will examine five health benefits of online gaming.
It Relieves Stress and Stimulates Happiness
People have different methods of relieving stress. To some, a simple vacation will do the trick. To others, a couple of hours playing their favorite online games will do the magic. It has been proven that recreational gaming relieves stress and stimulates happiness. This happiness also improves the brain’s functions.
Many people suffer various ailments because of stress, for instance, mental degradation, retardation, and depression. A simple gaming session can divert their minds from whatever they are dealing with. The suspense, thrills, fun and delight that come from online gaming keep the brain lively, sharp, stress-free, and ready for another working day.
Although you may lose money sometimes if you play real money games like poker, it does not take away the fun, happiness, and entertainment the activity has provided. The joy and excitement that comes from gaming are on another level. When you add the suspense of waiting for the outcome to the mix and competing with your mates, you have a fantastic combo that will captivate and excite you and relieve just about any stress you have been hoarding.
Sharpens the Mind
Research shows that those who engage in online gaming have more functional and responsive brains. This is because online games are not only exciting but naturally keep the brain engaged. So, when you play these games, they train your brain to focus on strategies, solutions, and things you can do to win.
Whenever you play, one of the things you learn is how to be observant. Observation is good for your mental health. Studying patterns and numbers keeps your brain focused and engaged. That way, you do not only have to remember things easily to win but will also have a sharp memory outside the online gaming world.
Furthermore, some studies have shown that gaming activities may help reduce the risks of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. This disease is brought about by brain deterioration and can lead to memory loss. Since online gaming activities stimulate the brain cells and help them to function correctly, it can be a way to avert Alzheimer’s disease in your old age.
Improves Decision Making
Online gamers are often fast decision makers. You can say it is something they pick from playing games. In most cases, gaming requires you to quickly assess your situations, which are usually rapidly changing, and make a fast decision to win. These decision-makings and judgements can be helpful in the long run.
Some studies by Cognitive neuroscientists in America suggest that playing fast-paced games serve as helpful exercises for the brain to assimilate information from the surrounding to make clear decisions quickly. So, when you play online games, you subject your brain to cover many things at a short interval.
The decision-making process will test your brain’s cognitive ability and flexibility. If you make the right decisions, you win. If you don’t, you lose. Outside of the gaming world, you can also apply this ability to different facets of life.
Enhanced Social Networking
One of the most prominent benefits of online gaming is its social aspect. Many online games allow gamers to connect with other like-minded people located in different parts of the world. Whether you team with them or against them, what is most important is that you would be socializing or networking.
Socializing with other people has numerous health benefits. It can generally help lighten your mood by making you feel happier. It can also help reduce the risk of dementia, build a sense of belonging and security, etc. The benefits are enormous.
To help gamers enjoy many of these benefits, many online games are built in a manner that allows players to communicate and even forge vibrant communities. From there, they can build solid friendships. Maybe even romance, who knows?
Improves Vision
You probably wouldn’t believe it when someone tells you that playing online games will help improve your vision. Many people actually think the reverse is the case since gamers are constantly staring at their smartphones or PC screens for the most part of the day.
But, look at it this way, fast-paced games such as first shooter games require intense focus. This focus requires intense attention and can train the eye to view objects and other sights more smartly than before. For a great gamer, nothing slips by their frames without getting noticed.
In addition, many gamers with ‘lazy eyes‘ have been found to have an improved ability to discern different shades of specific colors compared to their non-gamers counterparts. So, you see, playing online games does help improve your vision. However, you also need to protect your eyes adequately with the right gadgets.
Conclusion
People often amplify the hazardous effects of online gaming. Thanks to this article, you now know that it’s not always about the negatives, gaming activities also have some health benefits.
These benefits make the whole process more enjoyable. However, you must also endeavor to keep your gaming activities in check, as the adverse effects typically come when the process becomes addictive. Game moderately and have fun!
The Canadian government says it will donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to fight the mpox outbreak in Congo and other African countries.
It says the donated doses of Imvamune will come from Canada’s existing supply and will not affect the country’s preparedness for mpox cases in this country.
Minister of Health Mark Holland says the donation “will help to protect those in the most affected regions of Africa and will help prevent further spread of the virus.”
Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in epidemiology and global health, says although the donation is welcome, it is a very small portion of the estimated 10 million vaccine doses needed to control the outbreak.
Vaccine donations from wealthier countries have only recently started arriving in Africa, almost a month after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
A few days after the declaration in August, Global Affairs Canada announced a contribution of $1 million for mpox surveillance, diagnostic tools, research and community awareness in Africa.
On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said mpox is still on the rise and that testing rates are “insufficient” across the continent.
Jason Kindrachuk, Canada research chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, said donating vaccines, in addition to supporting surveillance and diagnostic tests, is “massively important.”
But Kindrachuk, who has worked on the ground in Congo during the epidemic, also said that the international response to the mpox outbreak is “better late than never (but) better never late.”
“It would have been fantastic for us globally to not be in this position by having provided doses a much, much longer time prior than when we are,” he said, noting that the outbreak of clade I mpox in Congo started in early 2023.
Clade II mpox, endemic in regions of West Africa, came to the world’s attention even earlier — in 2022 — as that strain of virus spread to other countries, including Canada.
Two doses are recommended for mpox vaccination, so the donation may only benefit 100,000 people, Pai said.
Pai questioned whether Canada is contributing enough, as the federal government hasn’t said what percentage of its mpox vaccine stockpile it is donating.
“Small donations are simply not going to help end this crisis. We need to show greater solidarity and support,” he said in an email.
“That is the biggest lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic — our collective safety is tied with that of other nations.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says it could be months before it reveals how many people are on the wait-list for a family doctor.
The head of the province’s health authority told reporters Wednesday that the government won’t release updated data until the 160,000 people who were on the wait-list in June are contacted to verify whether they still need primary care.
Karen Oldfield said Nova Scotia Health is working on validating the primary care wait-list data before posting new numbers, and that work may take a matter of months. The most recent public wait-list figures are from June 1, when 160,234 people, or about 16 per cent of the population, were on it.
“It’s going to take time to make 160,000 calls,” Oldfield said. “We are not talking weeks, we are talking months.”
The interim CEO and president of Nova Scotia Health said people on the list are being asked where they live, whether they still need a family doctor, and to give an update on their health.
A spokesperson with the province’s Health Department says the government and its health authority are “working hard” to turn the wait-list registry into a useful tool, adding that the data will be shared once it is validated.
Nova Scotia’s NDP are calling on Premier Tim Houston to immediately release statistics on how many people are looking for a family doctor. On Tuesday, the NDP introduced a bill that would require the health minister to make the number public every month.
“It is unacceptable for the list to be more than three months out of date,” NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Tuesday.
Chender said releasing this data regularly is vital so Nova Scotians can track the government’s progress on its main 2021 campaign promise: fixing health care.
The number of people in need of a family doctor has more than doubled between the 2021 summer election campaign and June 2024. Since September 2021 about 300 doctors have been added to the provincial health system, the Health Department said.
“We’ll know if Tim Houston is keeping his 2021 election promise to fix health care when Nova Scotians are attached to primary care,” Chender said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador‘s chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says that so far this year, the province has recorded 230 confirmed cases of the vaccine-preventable respiratory tract infection, also known as pertussis.
Late last month, Quebec reported more than 11,000 cases during the same time period, while Ontario counted 470 cases, well above the five-year average of 98. In Quebec, the majority of patients are between the ages of 10 and 14.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick has declared a whooping cough outbreak across the province. A total of 141 cases were reported by last month, exceeding the five-year average of 34.
The disease can lead to severe complications among vulnerable populations including infants, who are at the highest risk of suffering from complications like pneumonia and seizures. Symptoms may start with a runny nose, mild fever and cough, then progress to severe coughing accompanied by a distinctive “whooping” sound during inhalation.
“The public, especially pregnant people and those in close contact with infants, are encouraged to be aware of symptoms related to pertussis and to ensure vaccinations are up to date,” Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Department said in a statement.
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, but vaccination is the most effective way to control the spread of the disease. As a result, the province has expanded immunization efforts this school year. While booster doses are already offered in Grade 9, the vaccine is now being offered to Grade 8 students as well.
Public health officials say whooping cough is a cyclical disease that increases every two to five or six years.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick’s acting chief medical officer of health expects the current case count to get worse before tapering off.
A rise in whooping cough cases has also been reported in the United States and elsewhere. The Pan American Health Organization issued an alert in July encouraging countries to ramp up their surveillance and vaccination coverage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2024.
