You’d be hard pressed to find a more devoted sports fan base than the residents of WNY. We’re a loud and proud bunch, internationally known for our unwavering loyalty and a love of the game that runs deeper than the Mariana Trench. Sports are meant to be entertaining for us to watch, and just that, but can they stir up enough emotion and stress among viewers to affect their health?
Ways Sports Takes a Toll on the Heart
When your favorite team comes up short, it makes sense to feel sad the day after a big upset. In other instances, seeing a player getting injured or suffer a serious medical issue can evoke feelings of serious upset or post-traumatic stress among viewers who may have suffered from the same condition or knew someone who did.
Short-term depression is normal when your team loses, as is irritability, and anger. But for those with preexisting conditions, strong emotions and intense reactions have the potential to trigger cardiovascular events. Stress cardiomyopathy occurs in response to stressful experiences, and can also increase blood pressure, heart rate, or risk of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke.
Even Good Things Are Bad In Excess
Prolonged stress could lead to negative emotional lifestyle habits such as smoking, overeating, or drinking too much alcohol.
Tailgating and indulging in a cold beer with some chicken wings is something Western New Yorkers are all too familiar with. But without moderation, you run the risk of increasing bad cholesterol, blood glucose levels, and other factors for heart disease.
“As a lifelong native Western New Yorker who has lived through four Big Game losses, I understand all too well the stress of watching our beloved Buffalo sports teams. Unfortunately, the stress that we experience is all too real, causing our bodies to release stress hormones like adrenaline and elevate levels of catecholamine, increasing our heart rate and blood pressure. These increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and can trigger rupture of plaque in arteries, leading to a heart attack. People with underlying cardiovascular issues are at an even higher risk.
So keep on keeping on, Mafia! But try to moderate alcohol and fatty food consumption, and try to keep your stress and emotions in check.”
Lauralee Sprague, MSN, FNC-P – Cardiology, Trinity Cardiology
Healthy Emotions Equal Healthy Hearts
Diet and regular exercise are key to your well-being, and the same goes for your mental health. A disappointing sports season shouldn’t be a reason to cause you chronic stress, but if you are dealing with real life hardships that can cause chronic stress, like caregiving, pressure at work, relationship problems, or financial struggles, it’s important you find a healthy way to cope. Whether that’s seeking therapy, exercising, spending more time with friends and family, turning to habits like smoking, vaping, drinking, being sedentary, and eating unhealthy foods will only add to your stress and increase the strain on your heart.
The heart and mind work best when they’re in sync. Incorporate healthy stress relief techniques to enjoy a more balanced and healthier life!
Schedule a Visit with Lauralee Sprague
Lauralee M. Sprague, MSN, FNP-C, is a board certified family nurse practitioner with a special interest in cardiology. She sees patients at patients at 27 Franklin Street in Springville.To schedule an appointment with Lauralee, call (716) 923-2770.
