Most gaming-related injuries only become problematic if you ignore the warning signs. Even then, they are rarely life-threatening. However, some problems can pop up without warning — and claim lives just as quickly. One such injury is a collapsed lung, which seems like the last catastrophe that would strike gamers, but it’s more widespread than you think.
A collapsed lung, better known as pneumothorax, occurs when the lung caves in and all the air stored inside rushes into the surrounding area. This devastating event causes intense chest pain, shortness of breath, and death if left untreated. Normally, you are only at risk if you have lung disease or suffered a chest injury, but a shocking number of esports players are learning their bad habits can also result in a collapsed lung.
Kotaku once reached out to medical professionals and learned that the esports lifestyle is the perfect breeding ground for collapsed lungs. One of these professionals, Counter Logic Gaming’s physical performance head Matthew Hwu, claimed that collapsed lungs tend to strike thin individuals with sedentary lives and poor posture. Another doctor, physical therapist Caitlin McGee, stated that poor posture and “bad breathing habits” also open the door for collapsed lungs. Many famous esports competitors have been hospitalized for lungs that suddenly collapsed. These include Song “Janus” Jun-hwa of Luxurywatch Blue, Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander of the Copenhagen Wolves, and Hai Du Lam of Cloud 9.
While the notion of suddenly losing a lung while gaming is beyond terrifying, apparently the key to preventing that condition is proper posture and breath control. So just remember to breathe and sit up straight, and you will probably be fine.
Most gaming-related injuries only become problematic if you ignore the warning signs. Even then, they are rarely life-threatening. However, some problems can pop up without warning — and claim lives just as quickly. One such injury is a collapsed lung, which seems like the last catastrophe that would strike gamers, but it’s more widespread than you think.
A collapsed lung, better known as pneumothorax, occurs when the lung caves in and all the air stored inside rushes into the surrounding area. This devastating event causes intense chest pain, shortness of breath, and death if left untreated. Normally, you are only at risk if you have lung disease or suffered a chest injury, but a shocking number of esports players are learning their bad habits can also result in a collapsed lung.
Kotaku once reached out to medical professionals and learned that the esports lifestyle is the perfect breeding ground for collapsed lungs. One of these professionals, Counter Logic Gaming’s physical performance head Matthew Hwu, claimed that collapsed lungs tend to strike thin individuals with sedentary lives and poor posture. Another doctor, physical therapist Caitlin McGee, stated that poor posture and “bad breathing habits” also open the door for collapsed lungs. Many famous esports competitors have been hospitalized for lungs that suddenly collapsed. These include Song “Janus” Jun-hwa of Luxurywatch Blue, Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander of the Copenhagen Wolves, and Hai Du Lam of Cloud 9.
While the notion of suddenly losing a lung while gaming is beyond terrifying, apparently the key to preventing that condition is proper posture and breath control. So just remember to breathe and sit up straight, and you will probably be fine.