Football fans ‘at risk of a heart attack’ due to intense levels of physical stress while watching their team play

Football fans suffer so much stress while watching their team play that they are at risk of a heart attack, a new Oxford study has shown.

The study collected saliva from 40 fans after three matches at the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

They found that the levels of the hormone cortisol rose during matches. It is associated with an increase in blood pressure and strain on the heart.

Dr Martha Newson, researcher at Oxford University’s Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion:

Cortisol rocketed during live games for the fans who were highly fused to the team. It was particularly high during games where their team lost. Interestingly, there were no differences in cortisol concentrations between men and women.
Despite preconceptions that men tend to be more bonded to their football teams, women were in fact found to be slightly more bonded to their national team than the men.
Fans who are more casual supporters also experience stress but not so extremely.

Raised cortisol has the effect of causing fear, whether that be the feeling of impending doom or that their life could well be in threat or at risk of attack.

One of the three games that was tested in the study was Brazil’s devastating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-final, and the study found that this was the most stressful game of the three by far.

According to the study, fans had used strategies to reduce stress during the match, such as humour and hugging, as coping mechanisms. It meant that by the time the full-time whistle was blown, stress levels were at pre-match levels.

Hard time to be a football fan these days if you are into Manchester United or Arsenal.

with information from Daily May (UK)