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To most, the Super Bowl is a day to get together with friends and cheer
for a favorite team. But for some football fans, the stress and anxiety
of bad calls and missed kicks can be hazardous to their health.
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University of Florida emergency medicine experts say watching the big game can cause the body to react in the same way it does during a hair-raising rollercoaster ride or a horror movie… but unlike these thrill activities the stadium sparring lasts three or four hours. Depending on how close the contest is on the field, fans' bodies experience numerous ups and downs as anxiety builds. The physiologic response includes elevated heart rate, constricted blood vessels and spikes in blood pressure as the body floods the bloodstream with the hormone epinephrine. U-F experts cite research conducted elsewhere that showed the excitement and stress of watching big sports contests can be enough to trigger a heart attack or stroke, typically among viewers with a history of heart disease or other medical conditions.
Dr. David Seaberg / UF emergency room physician
"Certainly those who have had previous strokes, heart attacks or high blood pressure need to be careful. We've got to remember that it's just a game, it's not a life-or-death situation.
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Doctors also say some sports fans who begin to experience symptoms delay heading to the emergency department during big games like the Super Bowl. But chest pain, shortness of breath or unusual lightheadedness should be considered serious and warrant an immediate trip to the
E-R. Fans with pre-existing conditions should also stick to their healthy routine on game day-- taking medicines as prescribed, while watching what they drink and snack on.
Dr. David Seaberg / UF emergency room physician
"There's a lot of alcohol, salty foods, foods that you maybe don't typically eat. And if you have previously existing medical conditions this could be exacerbated, even by just the foods you're eating."
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At the University of Florida Health Science Center, I'm Mike Garrison
