March 5 (iVillage Total Health) -- Before you buy that lottery ticket, punch that bingo card or place that online poker bet, remember this: compulsive gambling affects more than just your pocketbook.

According to a national gambling awareness group, the health affects of problem gambling -- including sleep and digestive disorders and heart conditions -- are often overlooked by physicians and mental health professionals. Gambling can become an addiction and disorder when the gambler becomes obsessed or can not control the urge to place bets. Gambling behavior that becomes excessive and continues despite serious financial, relationship and work problems is considered pathological (or compulsive). The American Psychiatric Association classifies pathological gambling as an impulse control disorder.

"Our research shows that 2 to 3 percent of the U.S. population will have a gambling problem in any given year," Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), said in a press release. His organization sponsors the National Problem Gambling Awareness Week observance, which is March 5-11 this year.

Whyte added: "Many of these gamblers first go to their primary care providers complaining of stress-related problems such as migraines, insomnia, stomach ailments and even cardiac distress." In addition, gamblers may be at higher risk of depression and alcohol and substance abuse, Whyte added.

"Of the thousands of problem gamblers who receive medical intervention every year, few are ever diagnosed with the gambling disorder," Whyte said. Few medical intake forms ask about a person's gambling habits and many healthcare professionals are not trained to ask patients about gambling-related addictions. "The doctors end up treating the physical symptoms and not the underlying mental disorder that caused the symptoms."

The ease of accessibility to online betting venues has made combatting gambling addictions even more difficult, experts say. According to NCPG, there are more than 2,500 gambling sites on the Internet, including some 400 online poker sites. Estimates indicated that there are that 300 bets per second -- totalling more than 5 million transactions a day. Wagers can be placed via the Internet or on mobile devices, cell phones, telephones or interactive television.

Experts are concerned about gambling among adolescents and teens, who are technologically savvy and have access to the Internet. According to the NCPG, the teen problem gambling rate is higher than the adult rate. Some 4 to 8 percent of children ages 12 to 17 may have gambling problems. Another 10 to 15 percent of teens may be at risk of developing problems. Experts advise parents to monitor their children's activities online.

Signs of problem gambling among teens may include:

• Unexplained absences from school

• Falling grades

• Increased family conflict

• Alcohol or drug abuse

• Asking for, taking or stealing money from family, friends or strangers

• Carrying large amounts of money and showing it off

• Taking about gambling or using gambling language

• Purchases of clothing and other possessions not provided by parents

• Secretly spending large amounts of time on the computer

• Bragging about winnings

• Overly interested in sports teams' performances

The NCPG has a 24-hour hotline (1-800-522-4700) available for people who are or know someone who has gambling problems.

Copyright 2007 iVillage Total Health.