A study into the impact of adrenaline on the body has revealed that the thrill of gaming can match the rush provided by popular extreme sports.

The study, by Ladbrokes Games, invited four male volunteers with different jobs and backgrounds to take part in an online gaming session, indoor skydive and 125ft freefall jump.

While simply playing an online game showed the smallest change in heart rate and blood pressure, winning the game resulted in one of the biggest increases in heart rate out of all the activities. The winner’s blood pressure also jumped from a resting rate of 118/46 to 160/139 – classed as ‘high’.

Out of all activities carried out on the day, the freefall jump resulted in the highest total heart rates and three out of four volunteers hit a high blood pressure. .