Scientific evidence shows that emotional stress during the most intense matches can raise the risk of cardiovascular events in vulnerable fans.
The eagerly awaited clash between Spain and Belgium promises high drama this Friday, but it also brings back to the fore a question scientists have been studying for years: Can a football match trigger a heart attack?
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Studies suggest that the emotional stress of the most intense matches can increase the risk of cardiovascular events in vulnerable people, although experts insist that football is not the cause, but a possible trigger.
Passion for football does not just make your heart race. During decisive games, heart rate, blood pressure and levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol increase significantly.
In most healthy fans these changes are temporary and have no consequences. However, in people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease or several risk factors, that peak of stress may be enough to bring on a heart problem.
One of the best-known studies was published after the 2006 World Cup in Germany in the 'New England Journal of Medicine'. The researchers observed that on the days when the German national team played, the number of emergency admissions for heart problems rose sharply, especially during the most tense matches. The risk of suffering a cardiovascular event was up to 2.7 times higher than on other days, a finding that turned that paper into a key reference on the impact of sports-related stress.
Since then, different studies have found similar results in international competitions and major sporting events, especially when matches are decided in extra time, by penalties or keep uncertainty alive until the very end.
Smartwatches confirm it too
The latest research comes from Bielefeld University in Germany, published this year in 'Scientific Reports. The researchers monitored more than 200 fans using smartwatches over several weeks to continuously measure their heart rate and stress levels during football matches.
The study found that high-intensity games caused a clear rise in heart rate and physiological stress, especially among fans who were most emotionally invested in their team. Reactions were also far more intense when the match was watched in the stadium than at home.
It is not just the match
Cardiologists emphasise that football rarely acts on its own. The risk increases when emotional stress is combined with other factors that are common during this type of event, such as heavy alcohol consumption, large meals, smoking, lack of sleep and pre-existing factors such as poorly controlled high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.
In these cases, the combination of physical and emotional stress can favour the onset of arrhythmias, hypertensive crises or even a heart attack in people who already have cardiovascular disease.
Should Spain’s fans be worried tonight?
Experts such as Dr José Abellán offer a reassuring message. For the vast majority of spectators, watching a Spain-Belgium match to the full does not pose any risk to their health.
However, people with a history of heart problems should avoid excesses, follow their treatment properly and not ignore symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, intense sweating or discomfort radiating to the arm or jaw.
Because although the excitement of football does not cause heart attacks on its own, science has been showing for years that a high-tension match can become the perfect trigger when the heart is already vulnerable.
