World Series games really can boost heart rates for fans, cardiologists say

The nail-biting action for fans when a Dodgers pitcher stares down a Blue Jays batter is as real to the body as any other spike in stress, say doctors who’ve felt the heart-pounding effects themselves.

“Fanxiety,” as one cardiologist called it, is on display in short videos posted to social media, showing people pacing in their living room, tossing soft objects at the screen, or covering their eyes during pivotal moments in baseball, football, hockey, soccer and other sports.

When a fan watches their favourite team play, their eyes and ears gather information that goes to the brain, which primes the body to react — because they’re emotionally invested, said Greg Wells, a scientist at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto who studies exercise physiology.

“I teach how to stay calm, cool and collected under pressure,” Wells said in an interview. When he’s watching a game, though, Wells admitted, “I throw stuff, I yell, I get upset. But I love it.”

When someone is emotionally invested in the outcome of a play that goes well, they experience joy, as the body and brain fill with endorphins, Wells explained. But if it doesn’t go well, he said, the emotional pain is also real.

Watching a drawn-out pitcher versus batter showdown at the plate can leave spectators anxious, said Wells, because they don’t know the outcome. That means heart rate, breathing and blood pressure rise as the body prepares for a fight or flight response, reacting to hormones like adrenaline.

“Cortisol and adrenaline pump into your body to get you ready for action as if you’re experiencing a real stressor,” said Wells.

When someone feels threatened, subconsciously, your blood pressure and awareness levels will rise; you may start to sweat and tremble, and cortisol triggers the release of glucose from your liver to give a short burst of energy. 

Several small studies also offer data on spectators during high-stakes games.

Watching at home like ‘a moderate workout’

The body’s response as we’re watching when there isn’t a real threat — or even a potential one — means all we can do is sweat it out, said Dr. Jacob Udell, a cardiologist at Women’s College Hospital and Toronto General Hospital.

“There’s been studies that show that participating live, when you’re there in person, it’s the equivalent of doing a strenuous workout,” said Udell, adding he has years of lived experience as a Blue Jay fan himself.

“Whereas if you’re watching at home, it’s the equivalent of a moderate workout,” in terms of increased heart rate, he said.

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For the vast majority of people, rising blood pressures or heart rates during a game won’t make a clinical difference, Udell said.

But if someone has a history of heart disease or other risk factors, like a heart rhythm abnormality, Udell said it’s important to take prescribed medications. 

“These kinds of events, especially in their extremes, can trigger the blood pressure going up, the heart rate going up, the stress levels going up. That can sometimes tip somebody who’s prone and frail over the edge, to potentially feeling chest pain and what we call angina, or their heart racing and palpitations. And they won’t stop, so it’s important to be vigilant.”

If you notice such symptoms,  seek medical attention promptly, medical experts say. 

Classic coping mechanisms, like box breathing and imagining a relaxing locale, can go a long way and have been shown to reduce strain on the cardiovascular system, Udell said, whether that’s during a bumper-to-bumper commute, opening an overdue bill or watching a white-knuckle baseball game.

“Pace yourselves,” he suggested. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Try to enjoy yourself.”