Poker, like many popular games associated with gambling, has a somewhat disreputable air. The “forbidden thrill” aspect of poker is compounded by the fact that at least one of its most popular variants (Texas Hold ‘Em, to be precise) revolves around deceiving one’s opponents, and seeing past the masks other players put up. Interestingly, a game that, in the minds of some, leaches away your money, time, and integrity becomes glamorous to others for those very reasons. However, there are several less glamorous aspects to poker. One of these has to do with the way that regular poker-playing can impact your health in the long-term.

Firstly, poker players’ bodies are impacted by the sedentary nature of the game. It is not tennis or long-distance running, after all, so players do not get much exercise. In other words, do not expect your typical poker champion to look like Matt Damon in Rounders. He/she is much more likely to be overweight—and be open to the health risks associated with obesity and inactivity.

Furthermore, we must take into account the “work life” of many poker players who take their game to the professional or semi-professional level. Though many fictional and fact-based depictions of poker might lead you to believe that fortunes can be made overnight, great poker triumphs are usually the result of many, many hours of grueling practice. Poker play itself tends to take a very long time. Yes, playing through one hand might take only a few minutes, but an entire game is made up of many hands or rounds. In addition, poker strategies tend to work best over a long game. If you play only a few hands, luck is likely to play a much bigger role in the outcome.

As a result, poker pros must earn their winnings over long, hard playing jags. Of course, many of them also have other jobs, or are students, so juggling this stressful schedule becomes even more difficult. As we have said before, poker is sedentary. Even so, the sheer length of the games combined with their high-pressure atmosphere can be exhausting. This is another of poker’s ironies: players can become very tired and stressed out while physically doing very little.

Once you factor in online play—which many players are turning to due to the medium’s convenience—we find even more health concerns. The practice of sitting in front of a screen for hours can damage the eyes. No, this is not a myth. It is a fact that both TV and computer screens strobe—too fast yr you to be conscious of it, but enough to make your eyes experience a great deal of strain in an effort to compensate. Needless to say, this damage can add up over time, leading to early eye infirmities in younger players.

All the above-mentioned health risks may sound extremely discouraging. However, this article by no means aims to instruct people to just give up poker. The best course of action is to be aware of what it can do to your body, and take action to compensate for this impact. Take time to exercise, and see if you can adjust your schedule so it strains you less. If you play well, poker can be great for your wallet. However, try to make sure not to damage your health in the process.