Football match scores can trigger heart attacks in male fans, study finds.
- The day after a football match in Poland, a 27% increase in coronary syndromes was recorded in a panel of 10,000 patients at risk
- A study that confirms the link between the stress of sports challenges and cardiovascular accidents
The stress of football fans is dangerous for their health. Recently, another study revealed that during an important football match, fans secrete more cortisol, the stress hormone, which dangerously increases their risk of having a heart attack. Results confirmed by this new research, presented on EAPC Essentials 4 You, a scientific platform of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
27% increase in admissions after defeat
The study investigated the link between the performance of the football team Jagiellonia Bialystok (Poland) and admissions for acute coronary syndromes. For its home matches, the team hosted 17,174 supporters in the 2016/17 season. Researchers analyzed the 10,529 patients with acute coronary syndromes admitted to Bialystok Medical University Clinical Hospital between 2007 and 2018. It is the only center in the city offering 24-hour invasive cardiology services out of 24 during this period. The average patient age was 66.6 years and 62% were male.
During the period studied, the team played 451 matches, national and European. The day after the team lost a home game, there was a 27% increase in male admissions for acute coronary syndromes. No association was found in women. “Our study shows that the poor results of the local professional football team coincided with more heart attacks in menobserved Dr. Lukasz Kuzma, author of the study, of the Medical University of Bialystok (Poland). Findings suggest mental and emotional stress of defeat can cause cardiac events.”
Too many emotions and unhealthy lifestyle
An overly intense emotion coupled with an unhealthy lifestyle would be the cause of this increase in cardiac cases. “Strong emotions can cause heart attacks and our study indicates that losing a game at home can affect fans. Fans, especially men with an unhealthy lifestyle, should exercise regularly and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. These steps are the key to supporting your favorite team for as long as you want without harming your own health.he concluded.
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