There’s nothing quite like watching your favorite team push to win a big game. Whether you are watching from the comfort of your home, at a tailgate or live in the stands, sports have a way of getting us worked up.
In fact, Ryan Gindi, M.D., a sports cardiologist at Henry Ford Health, warns that there is a very real risk for people to have a cardiac event while cheering on their team. Whether the team is winning or losing, getting super invested in the game can put your heart at risk if you aren’t careful.
Why Being A Fan Gets Your Blood Pumping
The roar of the crowd. Your team’s fate coming down to final seconds. The anticipation of if that shot, that catch, that basket will help secure a win. So many factors of a sporting event can trigger an emotional reaction.
“When we experience such intense emotions such as anger, excitement, depression, stress, anxiety – all of these things trigger a sympathetic response from our nervous system,” says Dr. Gindi. “This response then results in an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and heart oxygen demand.”
With all these factors at play, this can put added stress on your heart and increase your likelihood of a heart attack. For someone who already has built up plaque in the heart’s arteries, that surge in blood pressure and heart rate can cause a clot to form, blocking blood flow to the heart. Intense stress can also trigger dangerous heart rhythms and a temporary weakening of the heart muscle called stress cardiomyopathy, sometimes known as “broken heart syndrome”.
According to Dr. Gindi, the link between sporting events and cardiovascular events has been documented in real fans. During the 2006 World Cup in Germany, a study found that cardiac emergencies rose more than two and half times the usual rate on days the German team played.
“For most healthy fans, the risk of a heart attack is small,” says Dr. Gindi. “This danger is concentrated in people who already have heart disease and risk factors – and many of them don’t know it before it’s too late.”
Know Your Cardiovascular Risk
“The number one most important thing you can do is to identify if you are at risk of a heart attack,” says Dr. Gindi. “Your primary care provider or a preventive cardiologist can evaluate your cardiovascular health so you have a better understanding of your risk.”
Evaluation usually includes assessing:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol (including lipoprotein a (Lp(a) levels)
- Blood sugar
- Your family history
- Lifestyle factors including smoking habits or history of sleep apnea
If you have a heart condition or are found to be at risk of a possible cardiovascular event, that doesn’t mean you can’t love sports or get into the game. Here, Dr. Gindi offers some tips to help lower your gameday heart attack risk:
- Try to relax. Getting worked up watching your team might happen, so when it does recognize it so you can take a moment for several deep breaths and help your body calm down.
- Watch what you eat and drink. Having a hot dog and a beer might not be the best decision for you to have a heart condition and typically get worked up during games. Salty stadium and tailgate foods can rais blood pressure while heavy drinking can trigger irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation (AFib). Staying properly hydrated can help keep your blood flowing properly and even help balance your blood pressure levels.
- Take a lap. If you find yourself frustrated or struggling to return your heart rate to more of a baseline, consider getting up and walking around for a minute. Take a step away from the TV or excuse yourself to the concourse for a minute to allow yourself a moment to decompress.
- Take your medications. Don’t skip blood pressure or other heart medications because of the excitement or a change in your routine.
- Pace yourself. Cold weather narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure – and hurrying up stadium stairs or across a parking lot adds extra strain. Dress in layers and give yourself plenty of time to get to the game and find your seat.
Know The Warning Signs
If you are at a stadium or arena, note where the first aid stations are located when you arrive.
“Never wait to see if symptoms pass,” advises Dr. Gindi. “Call 911 if you begin experiencing chest pain, pressure or tightness, especially if it spreads to your arm, back, neck or jaw, or if you’re having shortness of breath, a racing heartbeat, nausea or lightheadedness.”
A game might not always feel like just a game. But putting your health on the line to be there for your team isn’t a game either. However you go about supporting your team, make sure to keep your wellbeing at top of mind at all times.
Reviewed by Dr. Ryan Gindi, a sports cardiologist who sees patients at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital and Henry Ford Medical Center – Bloomfield Township.
