This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
Published on September 20, 2019, a study by researchers from the University of Sydney has highlighted the potential risks of video games on children's heart health.
According to the study, three young children suffered cardiac incidents after playing video games. In the first case, a 10-year-old boy experienced a heart attack at school due to an unknown condition called ventricular fibrillation. In the second case, a 15-year-old boy who had previously had heart surgery fainted while playing a video game and was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia. The third case involved an 11-year-old boy who collapsed while playing an electronic war game and was diagnosed with long-QT syndrome.
While all three children had underlying heart conditions, the researchers suggest that the intensity of playing games may have triggered the problems. Dr. Ronald Kanter, a cardiologist at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, noted that anything causing a sudden surge of adrenaline can put vulnerable patients at risk of going into a dangerous heart rhythm.
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