One of the biggest reasons gaming has grown in recent years is its stress-relieving benefits. As per a recent survey, almost 90% of all US gamers play to blow off steam, which is also why gaming hours have swelled to over 13 hours weekly. The same sentiments are echoed around the world as a 2023 Power or Play report reveals that over 50% of global gamers turn to video games to get through difficult times.
Given how gaming is a contemporary means to address stress, some stressed gamers may also turn to cigarettes as a further means to soothe their anxieties. Unfortunately, while marrying gaming and smoking may seem inconsequential at first, several effects prove the opposite.
Can smoking really help with stress?
Despite the known health risks that cigarette smoking brings, worldwide smoking statistics reveal that one in four adults still smoke. This has caused smoking, specifically using tobacco cigarettes, to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death among adults. The primary reason why smokers tend to overlook this is because of the perceived stress-relieving benefits of the habit.
One of the primary ingredients of cigarettes is tobacco, which has nicotine. When the body consumes nicotine, this triggers the pleasure centers in the brain. At the same time, some studies have found that the repetitive, controlled breathing pattern that smokers practice when taking a drag can have a calming effect. Even the act of keeping your mouth and hands busy with a cigarette can act as a self-soothing outlet. All in all, this creates an association between stress relief and cigarettes. For gamers who also play to combat stress, cigarette smoking can seem like an extra way to cope and improve moods.
The real cost of cigarettes among gamers
Despite the above points, any perceived benefits that smoking offers are temporary and trumped by the long-term adverse effects. For gamers, there are specific cons that should be noted. In terms of physical health, cigarettes can drastically impact blood circulation and oxygenation. As smoking constricts blood vessels, this can manifest in issues like decreased lung performance. In gaming, this can impair your stamina, which can be detrimental when playing long campaigns. Additionally, nicotine can cause headaches. Some reports share that nicotine, the aforementioned ingredient in cigarettes, may increase the sensitivity of pain receptors in the brain. This is on top of possibly dulling the effects of certain pain-relieving medications. One of the primary ways that such headaches can impact your gaming is by making you more photosensitive and less focused. This is partly why some gaming eyewear claims to protect against headaches since this can result in slower reaction times and shorter playing windows.
Circling back to stress, cigarettes can actually heighten negative feelings after a while. This is because the chemicals in cigarettes can impact cognitive function, resulting in restlessness and irritability. Such emotions can negate any perks that gaming offers, as moody players are likely to feel tilted and make more mistakes. Over time, this can even lead to negative feelings towards gaming as a whole.
Finally, discussing how cigarette smoking can hurt your gaming rig is important. Even the most sophisticated gaming gear is vulnerable to heat and smoke. Because cigarette smoke includes fine particulate matter, it is likely to enter your devices and leave a thin coating on the circuitry. This can then impair their efficiency and even cause short circuits should the soot catch a spark. In some cases, cigarette smoke can even clog up vents, making fans stop functioning entirely. At the very least, your rig is susceptible to tar and dust. When these are exposed to the heat of electronics, it can create a thick black substance that is unsightly and difficult to clean off.
In closing, if you’re gaming to relax, adding a cigarette to the mix will do more harm than good. If you’re already a smoker but want to turn to gaming for stress relief instead, try switching to cigarette alternatives like nicotine pouches or gums to wean you off the habit without impacting your overall gaming experience.
