For the first time in many people’s lives, the Kansas City Chiefs are playing on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages, the Super Bowl. But can rooting for the Chiefs be bad for your health? A study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology suggests that the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat can have a substantial effect on the cardiovascular system. Researchers found that heart rates peaked most often during any scoring opportunity, for or against your team, and during overtime.
Dr. Steve Owens is a cardiologist at The University of Kansas Health System, and in the video, he says the thrill of a game is part of the thrill of being a fan, but he cautions to make sure the game doesn’t distract you from your health. He says it’s common for an emergency department waiting room to be empty during a big game, and within 15 minutes of the game’s end, be full of heart patients…especially if the patient’s team lost. He explains the science behind what causes these problems, plus the symptoms to look for. He says adding alcohol, smoking and fatty foods to the mix during a high-stakes game like the Super Bowl, especially with the Chiefs playing, can really ramp up the stress level and the chance for a heart problem. Owens offers tips to help fans prevent heart problems while still enjoying the game. Those tips include avoiding binge drinking, drink plenty of water, be careful not to overeat, and most importantly, don’t forget to take any heart medicine you normally take.
