Can the Stress of Watching Sports Affect Your Heart?
Oct. 16, 2023 - Katie McCallumTwo outs, two strikes and there’s a runner on third. You’re at the edge of your seat (maybe not even in it at this point), you’re shaking, palms clenched and sweaty, stomach full of butterflies.
All that stands between you, your team and another postseason victory is one more swing of the bat. As the pitch is released, you can actually feel the blood coursing through your veins.
Hang on, what? Should I be concerned that my heart feels like it’s beating faster than Verlander’s 98 mph fastball?
“During a game, there can be a lot of excitement, anticipation and unknowns — and these things can elevate your heart rate and your blood pressure,” says Dr. William Zoghbi, chief of cardiology at Houston Methodist Hospital. “But this is a completely normal response.”
Why a nerve-wracking game raises your heart rate and blood pressure
It may be hard to believe, but your heart rate increases when you’re nervous or excited during a baseball (Mizzou football) game for the same reason our ancestors were able to handle truly dangerous situations. It’s called the fight-or-flight response.“When you experience a physically or mentally stressful situation, your adrenal glands release hormones that increase blood pressure and heart rate,” says Dr. Zoghbi. “This is a hard-wired, inherited mechanism, and its purpose is to keep you alert and give you the energy you need to handle the situation you’re in.”
On the surface, being heavily invested in a baseball(Mizzou football) game might not seem like the time for fight-or-flight — but your body doesn’t know that. All it knows is that you’re experiencing something that feels very stressful, and it needs to give you your best chance of responding appropriately.
Why this probably shouldn’t worry you
The good news is that the vast majority of us can breathe a sigh of relief, because, in the context of watching a postseason baseball game (Mizzou SEC football game), having an elevated heart rate and elevated blood pressure isn’t harmful. In fact, your heart rate probably isn’t even getting as high as it does when you’re lightly exercising.Plus, the effects don’t linger long enough to have a lasting impact on your heart health.
But increased heart rate and blood pressure do cause your heart work harder, which places stress on it. This means individuals with preexisting heart conditions, such as heart disease or coronary artery disease, may feel the symptoms of their conditions more strongly when they’re excited or nervous at a sporting event.
“For instance, these individuals may experience some mild chest discomfort or shortness of breath,” explains Dr. Zoghbi, “but this isn’t necessarily dangerous.”
In extreme (and rare) situations, however, a stressful or exciting sporting event can turn dangerous if a person has a serious condition called stress cardiomyopathy — especially if they don’t know they have it.
“This is incredibly rare and they usually recover, but when these individuals become very excited or stressed, bad things can happen to the heart,” warns Dr. Zoghbi.
Whether you’re healthy or have a preexisting heart condition, if you’re concerned about your heart during an intense baseball (Mizzou football) game Zoghbi recommends avoiding other behaviors that increase your heart rate that are preventable, like drinking alcohol.
“I know I’m in the Astros fever right now, so I say enjoy the games!” says Dr. Zoghbi. “During a nerve-wracking game, you’re not going to prevent your heart rate and blood pressure from increasing — it just comes with the territory of any exciting moment. So that’s when moderation of unhealthy behaviors becomes important.”
