WHO is adding gaming disorder as one of the diseases

The World Health Organization (WHO) will include gaming disorder as a diagnosable problem. The 11th edition of its International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which will be released in 2018, will have this new gaming disorder. The behavior must persist for at least one year in order to be diagnosed. However, in severe cases, this time can be shortened. The term can be applied to both online and offline gaming. ICD is used by health professionals globally and serves as an international standard for defining health conditions and diseases.


According to the draft, gaming becomes more than just a hobby when one is unable to control how often to play or cannot stop even after battling it out for hours on end. Not only are those bouts of World of Warcraft more intense for people who have the disorder, but also the game often takes over their life and gets in the way of everyday activities. For example, one might get fired for too many skipped work days. As WHO writes in the draft, “The behavior pattern is of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning. The pattern of gaming behavior may be continuous or episodic and recurrent.”


However, a small study of older adults indicated that playing games like Super Mario could boost brain function.

Playing video games for a 12-hour streak could be a mental health problem, not just an annoyance to your family and friends. The World Health Organization is adding gaming disorder to a beta draft of its International Classification of Diseases.

Related: Improve brain function by playing Super Mario and other video games, Science says

According to the draft, gaming becomes more than just a hobby when you’re unable to control how often you play or can’t seem to stop even after battling it out for hours on end. Not only are those bouts of World of Warcraft more intense for people who have the disorder, but also the game often takes over their life and gets in the way of everyday activities.

And despite any negative consequences, like getting fired for too many skipped work days, people who have the disorder can’t stop themselves from playing.

As the WHO writes in the draft, “The behavior pattern is of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning. The pattern of gaming behavior may be continuous or episodic and recurrent.”

The World Health Organization will include gaming disorder as a diagnosable problem. THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images

The behavior must persist for at least one year in order to be diagnosed. However, in severe cases, this time can be shortened. The term can be applied to both online and offline gaming.

The International Classification of Diseases, or ICD, is used by health professionals globally and serves as an international standard for defining health conditions and diseases. The 11th edition, which will be released in 2018, will have this new gaming disorder.

Despite the addition in the ICD, gaming addiction has not been recognized as an official condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Created by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the guide is used by American mental health professionals to diagnose mental health problems.

However, internet gaming disorder is included in the latest guide as a problem to watch for potential inclusion.

“By listing Internet Gaming Disorder in DSM’5 Section III, APA hopes to encourage research to determine whether the condition should be added to the manual as a disorder,” the APA wrote in an explanation about their stance

Some will debate whether gaming should be classified as an addiction, but there’s no denying that too much time in front of the screen can hinder normal functioning. In a severe case in 2011, a woman in New Mexico spent so much time playing games online, she neglected her toddler, who died from malnutrition and dehydration, according to Fox News. CNN reported another severe case from Taiwan. In 2015, a man was found dead from cardiac arrest after playing for three consecutive days, and doctors believe exhaustion may have contributed to his death.

However, video games aren’t all bad. As Newsweek previously reported, a small study of older adults indicated that playing games like Super Mario could boost brain function.  

Immune Support During the Winter Months

There are some foods that can provide an extra helping of immune support during cold winter months:

Broth-Based Soups

Amino acids in chicken soup can help stay healthy during the winter months. Vegetable broth is also good for you. A cup of vegetable broth provides 10% of the vitamin A you need each day.

Herbal Teas 

Many teas contain antioxidant properties that help give the immune system a boost:

• Ginger Tea - Tea made from ginger root provides digestive support.
• Turmeric Tea - Turmeric contains a powerful antioxidant and has tummy-soothing properties.
• Peppermint Tea – Tea containing peppermint can help support the digestive system.
• Licorice Teas - Licorice is an antioxidant that helps support the immune system.

Add honey to the tea for additional health benefits.

 

Carbohydrates for Energy

To keep your energy up, choose optimal carb sources like barley, oats, quinoa, beans, potatoes, yams and carrots. Many of these energy-packed carbs can be added to the broth-based soups.

 

Foods High in Immune Health Vitamins and Nutrients

The following foods are good for supporting the immune system:

• Strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and citrus fruits are great sources of vitamin C.
• Cod liver oil, salmon, tuna and eggs provide the body with Vitamin D.
• Pumpkin and squash seeds, pork, chicken and beans all contain zinc.
• Chicken, salmon, tuna, green vegetables and chickpeas provide vitamin B6.
• Carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach and broccoli pack in vitamin A.
• Lean beef, turkey, chicken, eggs, beans and lentils are good sources of L-Lysine.
• Yogurt, kefir, miso and tempeh provide probiotics.
• Fresh garlic has antioxidant properties and supports cardiovascular health.
• Basil leaves contain vitamins A, C and K, plus basil supports immune health.
• Cayenne supports cardiovascular and digestive health.
• Turmeric has antioxidant properties, plus supports cardiovascular and digestive health.
• Unlike dried ginger used in herbal teas, fresh ginger has properties that support digestive health.
• Rosemary is an antioxidant and good for general wellness.

Vitamin D - the Sunshine Vitamin

While it is true that our body produces natural vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight, during the winter months — especially for folks living in northern climates — the sun’s rays just are not powerful enough to provide adequate exposure. Thus, our bodies cannot produce enough vitamin D to keep up with our daily needs. Even in the summer, the push to bathe ourselves in sunscreen lotions and sprays reduces our opportunities to produce our own vitamin D.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) lists the following recommendations for daily vitamin D intake for health and to maintain strong bones. It does so by helping the body absorb calcium (one of bone’s main building blocks) from food and supplements:

• Birth to 12 months: 400 IU
• Children 1-13 years: 600 IU
• Teens 14-18 years: 600 IU
• Adults 19-70 years: 600 IU
• Adults 71 years and older: 800 IU
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: 600 IU

A deficiency in vitamin D most often leads to a decrease in bone health, specifically bone density — a problem that only compounds the older we get, as the body’s natural ability to produce vitamin D decreases over time.

Severe vitamin D deficiency is also being studied for possible connections to cardiovascular health, blood pressure and immune health.

Top Foods High in Vitamin D

Wild-Caught Fish:

Fatty fish caught in the wild are the best sources of natural vitamin D:

• Salmon: 3 ounces = approx. 400 IU (66% daily value (DV))
• Mackerel: 3 ounces = approx. 540 IU (90% DV)
• Sardines: 3 ounces = approx. 165 IU (28% DV)
• Canned tuna: 3 ounces = approx. 155 IU (26% DV)
• Cod Liver Oil: 1 tsp = approx 440 IU (73% DV)

Beef Liver

Beef liver provides a small amount of natural vitamin D. With a small 3-ounce portion, we can get about 40 IU of vitamin D (about 6% DV)

Egg Yolks
Each single yolk does offer about 40 IU (6% DV). Pair it with a glass of milk to boost our vitamin D intake.

Milk
In some countries, almost all the milk comes fortified with about 400 IU of vitamin D per quart.

Breakfast Cereals
Like milk, most breakfast cereals come fortified with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D.

Mushrooms
Mushrooms can produce their own vitamin D from sunlight just like humans. Unfortunately, mushrooms tend to be grown in dark, damp conditions without much sunlight exposure.