Watching football game may trigger health problems

A regular high level intake of alcohol, chain smoking, overeating and irregular food habits, work stress are some of the known factors that result in increased risk of cardiovascular disease. According to a recent study by researcher watching a crucial game between two teams is likely to combine several of these factors at the same time. A BBC health report says the stress associated with an important match may trigger a health attack or stroke. Dr. Jane Landon, deputy chief executive of the national heart forum told BBC news online: "Almost one in ten deaths from coronary heart disease could be avoided if sedentary people took even light, regular exercise. If more football fans regularly took to the football field as well as watching their national teams playing, they could reduce their risk of a heart attack in moments of stress."

A previous study found that Edinburg Royal Infirmary treated an incredible 151 patients for football-related problems during the 1998 World Cup in France. Problems included:

(a) A fan rushed to hospital suffering an asthma attack, which came on as he watched the Scots go down 3-0 to the Moroccans in the 1998 World Cup.
(b) Another fan who needed treatment for self-inflicted deafness from his shouting at the television.
(c) One fan sporting -a full Scotland strip - was found unconscious after having overdosed on temazepam. He required treatment for psychosis when he said the Scottish squad was talking to him through the television screen.
(d)Eight fans who suffered chest pains, two who suffered hyperventilation, one with palpitations and three with alcohol-related seizures.

The Dutch study is published in the British Medical Journal. Most Dutch people have unhappy memories of the France - Holland match in the 1996 European Championships - but they are the lucky ones. Researchers have found that the number of fatal heart attacks and strokes suffered by Dutchmen on the day that their side went out of the tournament on penalties was significantly higher than normal. They believe the reason could be the increased stress associated watching a big sporting event. The researchers from the University Medical Center in Utrecht compared the number of deaths on match day - 22 June 1996 with the number of deaths five days before and after the match and in the same period in 1995 and 1997.

In men, deaths from heart attack or stroke significantly increased on the day of the football match, compared with the five days on either side.

In total, about 14 additional deaths occurred - an increase of around 50%. No corresponding increase in deaths occurred in women.