Can watching NHL playoffs give you a heart attack? What the science says
Global News
As the NHL playoffs heat up and three Canadian teams chase the Stanley Cup, fans across the country are riding an emotional roller-coaster.
As the NHL playoffs heat up and three Canadian teams chase the Stanley Cup, fans across the country are riding an emotional roller-coaster — screaming at their televisions, biting their nails and in some cases, clutching their chests.
But could the stress of playoff hockey be doing more than just fraying nerves? Could it actually be harming hearts? Studies and experts suggest it just might — especially for fans with existing heart conditions.
“It most definitely can happen. It is rare, but it still happens. For people who are healthy, this isn’t likely to be an issue at all,” said Scott Lear, a professor of health sciences at Simon Fraser University.
“But somebody is excited watching a sporting event, it can be a case where they’re so personally invested, their heart rate and blood pressure go up … and people who may not have good heart health or those diagnosed with heart disease, this can be problematic.”
He says he once treated a patient who couldn’t watch Vancouver Canucks games anymore — the stress was so intense, it triggered chest pain.
This kind of emotional investment may have played out vividly on Sunday evening, as the Winnipeg Jets trailed the St. Louis Blues by two goals heading into the third period. Then, in a stunning turn, they scored twice — once with just 1.6 seconds left — to force overtime. Winnipeg erupted; St. Louis deflated.
And now that the PWHL playoffs are kicking off Wednesday evening, it adds another chance for fans to take on the emotional rollercoaster.
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