During an important football match, fans secrete more cortisol, the stress hormone, which dangerously increases their risk of having a heart attack.
When too much enthusiasm becomes risky for health. In a study published on January 14 in the journal Stress and Health, researchers warn of the dangerous levels of stress experienced by some overexcited fans during a football match. According to the scientists, too much involvement in the game would increase their cortisol levels too much, which would put them at increased risk of heart attack, especially in the event of a defeat for their team.
To come to this conclusion, the researchers collected the saliva of 41 fans during the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil. They took them before, during and after matches, including the semi-final in which Brazil were eliminated 1-7 by Germany, and measured levels of cortisol, a hormone produced by the body in case of stress. They discovered that this level exploded during live broadcast matches, especially when the supported team lost the match. This increase was observed in the same way in men as in women. “Women are even slightly more linked to their national team than men,” comments Martha Newson, researcher at the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) in a press release.
“Team-fused fans – that is, fans who have a strong sense of being one with their team – showed the greatest physiological stress (…) Fans who are only occasional supporters also experience stress, but in a less extreme way”, she explains.
“Offer heart screenings” to supporters
“Football is much more than a game, it’s a group (…) it’s not just identifying with your team or loving it, it’s when your team becomes one with you “, she explains in a interview for the BBC. In the past, previous studies have already shown that on important match days, the number of heart attacks increases among fans.
If it is essential to respond to daily stress, cortisol is not supposed to be secreted in high doses continuously. Normally, the secretion of this hormone, produced by the adrenal glands, is maximum between 6 and 8 am and then decreases until the evening, when it is minimum. Also, when the body makes too much, it can weaken the immune system, lead to weight gain and increased blood pressure, with a high risk of heart disease.
Concluding their study, the researchers advise clubs to identify the fans most at risk and “offer them cardiac screenings or other health measures” to reduce the level of stress hormones during matches. It could also help “reduce the incidents of hooliganism and violence” often associated with football matches, Martha Newson hopes.
In France, 80,000 people concerned each year
The heart attack or myocardial infarction is triggered by the blockage of an artery that supplies the heart and blood. Deprived of oxygen, the muscle cells of the heart quickly die over a more or less extensive area, which leads to contraction of the heart muscle manifesting itself in arrhythmias, heart failure, or even heart failure.
In addition to stress, the risk factors identified are smoking, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and physical inactivity. It would seem that age (over 65) and gender (male) also matter a lot. After menopause, however, the risks are just as great for women.
In France, 80,000 people suffer from a heart attack each year. In one out of ten cases, these are fatal within the hour. However, thanks to therapeutic progress and the speed of intervention of the Samu, which must be contacted immediately at 15 or 112, the 30-day mortality rate fell from 10.2% in 1995 to 2.1% in 2015 .
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