Beat Stress With Online Poker

A recent study by a group of Canadian scientists has proven that playing online poker reduces stress.

The benefit comes from cortisol – the “stress hormone” which is made y the body’s adrenal gland.  When cortisol is released into the blood stream, it increases your lood pressure and blood sugar levels, triggering the “fight or flight” response.  In the long term, stress can be very damaging to your body.

A Canadian university has published the results of a study they did into stress and online poker.  As part of the study, the cortisol levels of online poker players were monitored.  As the players becamse more involved in the game, their bodies produced less cortisol, rather than more.

Previous studies had already found that the brain benefits from online gambling in other ways – for example improved cognitive function, and the reduction of the ageing process thanks to the brain activity that online gambling encourages.  This latest study is yet another way that the body can benefit from online gambling.

The study tracked the cortisol levels of players throughout a prolonged online session.  There was a gradual reduction throughout the session, with the average reduction being 17%.  The researchers believe that the same reduction could be expected for players participating in other forms of online gambling.

The researchers said that they believe the reason for the reduced cortisol levels is that the players becomine increasingly focused on the game and forget about the stresses of online poker. People who play poker – in real life or online, tend to be very tranquil when they are playing, which encourages lower cortisol levels.

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Pacific Poker, Poker News, poker research