People who gamble also have an increased risk of health problems such as
angina and liver disease. Gambling can be as serious an addiction as
substance abuse or alcoholism. The latter are both associated with other
health problems and so, also, is gambling according to a new study from the
University of Connecticut. Their data comes from the National Epidemiologic
Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, which covers more than 43,000
Americans. More than a quarter of the participants gambled five or more
times a year. Forms of gambling included playing cards for money, betting on
horses, dogs or sport, buying lottery tickets or playing the stock market.
Around one per cent were considered to be problem gamblers and 0.5 per cent
were addicted to gambling. Those who gambled were more likely to have high
blood pressure or suffer from alcohol abuse or obesity. The problem and
pathological gamblers also had an increased risk of angina and liver
disease. The findings show that gambling should be taken as seriously as
other addictions – not only for the social and psychological problems it
brings, but also because of its effect on physical health.