Improve Your Health - Play Bridge

Yes, it's true, there really are benefits to your health if you are a bridge player. It's even been the subject of research by Berkeley University.

There has been a long running debate about whether or not bridge counts as a sport and in June 2017 it seemed that the European Courts of Justice might rule that it is.  This wasn't to be as in Oct 2017 the Court ruled that although bridge "involves logic, memory and planning, and may constitute an activity beneficial to the mental and physical health of regular participants”, they clarified this by adding "“The court concludes that an activity such as duplicate bridge, which is characterised by a physical element that appears to be negligible, is not covered by the concept of ‘sport’”"

You can read more in the Guardian newspaper HERE.

Although the European Court has denied that bridge is a sport they have acknowledged that it has benefits to both mental and physical health - something that many bridge players will long have realised.

I mentioned above that bridge had been the subject of a study by Berkeley University. This study was carried out in 2000 by Professor Marian Diamond who showed that playing bridge boosts the immune system. 

How can playing bridge boost your immune system?  It seems that this is an effect of the concentration required whilst playing which stimulates the brain and so boosts the immune system.

Professor Diamond asked 12 ladies in their 70s and 80s to take part in the study. He started by taking blood samples and then asked the ladies to play bridge for an hour and a half.  At the end of this time he retested their blood.

Two thirds of these ladies showed an increase in the levels of T cells in their bodies - the cells used to fight infection.

There is a common saying "use it or lose it".  As we get older this saying applies very much to keeping the brain active and healthy.  People live longer and want their brains to remain active and alert.  Playing bridge is the perfect way of keeping your brain active and maintaining your ability to concentrate and focus.

As well as these physical benefits there are social benefits to playing bridge.  If you play bridge you will always be able to find a local bridge club or like minded people to enjoy a game of bridge with.  You will enjoy an active social life, meeting new people and making new friends.  Very important if you are getting older, but equally important for younger people as well.

Even if you are unable to leave your house, you can join online bridge rooms where you can play bridge against real people.  The internet is a huge benefit to anyone with an illness or disability, allowing you to make friends, chat and interact with people that you would otherwise never meet.

So what are you waiting for?  Join No Fear Bridge and learn or improve your bridge play today.  It can help improve or maintain your physical and mental health.

Join No Fear Bridge UK HERE (UK, Ireland and NZ players)

Join No Fear Bridge US HERE.

(Disclaimer, I'm not a doctor - so please do your own research before relying on any of the information here.  If you feel you may have a mental illness or disability, always consult your doctor.)