logo
Can watching NHL playoffs give you a heart attack? What the science says

Can watching NHL playoffs give you a heart attack? What the science says

Global News07-05-2025

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.'
Story continues below advertisement
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.
Whether your team wins or loses, there's no denying it: playoff games can create an emotional and physiological roller-coaster for fans on both sides.
Lear pointed out that, while it's uncommon, a die-hard fan with underlying health problems who's yelling at the television, drinking beer and munching on chips could be setting themselves up for a heart attack.
Emotions and the heart
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Canada, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. And it's caused by a variety of reasons such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, unhealthy diet, age, smoking and drinking.
Story continues below advertisement
But emotions and psychological stress have also been linked to serious heart issues, including heart attacks, irregular heartbeats and even sudden cardiac death.
View image in full screen
Toronto Maple Leafs fans gather to watch game three of the first round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Ottawa Senators in Maple Leafs Square at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. April 24, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images
Studies have shown that watching intense sports games like soccer, rugby, baseball and hockey can increase the risk of heart problems, from chest pain and heart attacks to cardiac arrest. Add in some of the habits that often come with game day — like heavy drinking, greasy food and smoking — and the risk goes up even more, especially for fans who already have heart conditions.
Get weekly health news
Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
'It is a thing. Watching the playoffs is a psychological stress, and these stresses can be extreme, but each person is different,' said Dr. Paul Dorian, a professor of medicine and cardiology at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.
Story continues below advertisement
For example, in 2013, a Chicago Blackhawks fan had a heart attack while watching Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final against the Boston Bruins.
During the 2018 World Cup match between England and Colombia, some fans' Apple Watches reportedly flagged dangerously high heart rates.
My mates heart rate spiked during the England v Columbia shootout… his Apple Watch was worried about him.
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/P3BTtvBR1E
— ʍǝɹpuɐ (@AndrewDearling) July 3, 2018
New use of Apple Watch; seeing how high watching England can push my heart rate during penalty shoot outs 😳
— Claire Knight (@krider2010) July 3, 2018
Story continues below advertisement
The science of sport fan stress
A growing body of research suggests that watching high-stakes sports isn't just thrilling — it can be hard on the heart.
One 2015 study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology tracked heart-related hospital visits in New Zealand during Rugby World Cup tournaments. Win or lose, admissions jumped during the games. But after a loss by the All Blacks — New Zealand's national rugby team — hospital admissions, especially for heart failure, were 50 per cent higher. After a win, they tended to drop.
In 2020, researchers writing in Cardiology pointed to a similar pattern among die-hard soccer, rugby, football and baseball fans. They found that emotionally invested spectators, especially those with a history of coronary artery disease, face an elevated risk of cardiac events during major games.
View image in full screen
Detroit Lions fans cheer during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Data from 2017 showed just how reactive fans' bodies can be. When researchers monitored Montreal Canadiens supporters, they found heart rates doubled during games. The effect was even more intense for those attending in person, though viewers at home also experienced heart rate spikes similar to what you'd see during moderate physical activity.
Story continues below advertisement
'The study raises the potential that the emotional stress-induced response of viewing a hockey game can trigger adverse cardiovascular events on a population level. Therefore, the results have important public health implications,' senior investigator Prof. Paul Khair from the Montreal Heart Institute said in an accompanying press release.
'Our analysis of elements of the hockey game associated with peak heart rates supports the notion that it is not the outcome of the game that primarily determines the intensity of the emotional stress response, but rather the excitement experienced with viewing high-stakes or high-intensity portions of the game,' he said.
Then, in 2018, another study focused on what happens after the final buzzer. Published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, it found a rise in heart attacks among men under 55 the day after a Canadiens win.
And during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, hospitals reported a 15 per cent increase in cardiovascular-related admissions during and just after matches, pointing again to the physical toll that emotional investment in sports can take.
Heart-smart fan tips
While heart attacks during high-stress sports events like the NHL playoffs are possible, both Dorian and Lear said they're very rare.
Story continues below advertisement
So no need to panic — just cheer responsibly.
'If someone is perfectly healthy, the chances are unbelievably low. If you are unhealthy, the risk is higher, but it's still quite low,' Dorian said.
4:38
Health Matters: How to manage playoff stress
Lear noted that added stressors — like overeating, drinking alcohol, hot weather or delaying treatment during a game — can compound the risk.
'If you feel the symptoms of a heart attack, don't wait until after the game to get help,' he said.
He also stressed the importance of overall heart health: staying active, managing risk factors like blood pressure and blood sugar and keeping medications like nitroglycerin close by if prescribed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Forget about the past': Fans weigh in on criticism of Wayne Gretzky over Trump ties
'Forget about the past': Fans weigh in on criticism of Wayne Gretzky over Trump ties

National Post

time2 hours ago

  • National Post

'Forget about the past': Fans weigh in on criticism of Wayne Gretzky over Trump ties

It wasn't long ago that some Canadians were up in arms about hockey legend Wayne Gretzky's ties to U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Article content But as the Edmonton Oilers skate their way through the Stanley Cup Final, hockey fans say it's time to let bygones be bygones. Article content 'I don't think it matters,' said Craig Hiscock, a longtime Oilers fan, as he posed Wednesday for a photo with a statue of Gretzky outside Rogers Place in Edmonton ahead of Game 1. Article content Article content 'Let's forget about the past. What he did here was a lot for the city, a lot for hockey.' Article content The statue was vandalized in March and smeared with what appeared to be and strongly smelled like feces. On Wednesday, a hip-high metal fence was up around the bronze figure. Article content An online petition started in February calling for a new name for Wayne Gretzky Drive also has about 14,000 signatures. Article content Gretzky, the Ontario-born hockey star who led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories in the 1980s, recently drew the ire of Canadians for his public support of Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire for Canada to join the U.S and become its 51st state. Article content The Great One was photographed with Trump several times at the president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. In January, Gretzky and his wife, Janet, attended Trump's inauguration in Washington. Article content Frustrations grew after he appeared as honorary captain for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off final with the United States. Video footage showed him giving the U.S. team a thumbs-up as he walked to the ice. Article content Article content Gretzky also congratulated Dallas Stars players in their locker room last month, after they advanced to the Western Conference final. Article content Article content The Oilers eliminated the Stars in five games and now have one win against the Florida Panthers in the Cup final. Game 2 is Friday night. Article content Brian Foulken, who became a fan during the Gretzky era and collects Oilers merchandise, said Gretzky's accomplishments, including multiple scoring records that stand to this day, still resonate with people.

NFL star Chuba Hubbard in Edmonton to cheer on his hometown Oilers
NFL star Chuba Hubbard in Edmonton to cheer on his hometown Oilers

National Post

time2 hours ago

  • National Post

NFL star Chuba Hubbard in Edmonton to cheer on his hometown Oilers

Toggle full screen modePrevious Gallery Image Next Gallery ImageToggle gallery captions View All 23 Photos 1 of 23 Article content Chuba Hubbard wants his Panthers to win a Super Bowl. He also wants a different group of Panthers to lose the Stanley Cup. Article content The Carolina Panthers star arrived at Rogers Place ahead of the second game of the Stanley Cup Final wearing a blue-and-orange Wayne Gretzky tribute jacket. Hubbard played his high-school football at Bev Facey in Sherwood Park, and his Oilers fandom runs deep. Article content Article content And, yes, he has been chatting with some of his Carolina Panthers teammates about his hockey fandom. Article content 'Everybody on the team knows that I'm a big Edmonton boy. And a lot of the guys watch hockey, so they keep up to date with it. I'm always talking smack, so they talk smack right back.' Article content When asked about his prediction for the series, Hubbard didn't want to make that call. Why? He's superstitious, and the last thing he wants to do is put a jinx on the Oilers. Article content Hubbard had a breakout season in 2024, establishing himself as the No. 1 running back for the Panthers. He rushed for 1,198 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. In 2024, he signed a four-year US$33.2 million contract extension with the Panthers. About half of the money is guaranteed, and he inked a signing bonus of just over $7.5 million. So he knows the pressure is on him to help spur an NFL franchise out of its rebuilding mode. But recent history has shown that a team that plays close to .500 football can contend for a playoff spot in the NFC South. Article content Article content 'Last year, we started a little rough, but we ended the right way. And we're just looking to build off of that and have a great year this year.' Article content Read More Hubbard looks to finish high school track career in style Edmonton area high-schooler Hubbard pursuing dual interests in track and football Advertisement embed-more-topic Article content And maybe, one day, if Hubbard makes the Super Bowl, Connor McDavid might get an invite. Article content Article content Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters. Article content You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun Article content

NHL draft prospect, Hamilton's Matthew Schaefer, on dealing with serious injury and the death of his mom
NHL draft prospect, Hamilton's Matthew Schaefer, on dealing with serious injury and the death of his mom

CBC

time2 hours ago

  • CBC

NHL draft prospect, Hamilton's Matthew Schaefer, on dealing with serious injury and the death of his mom

Matthew Schaefer's collarbone is fine, and so is the Erie Otter defenseman's perspective on dealing with adversity. Missing the final three months of the season entering his draft eligible year, the 17-year-old said, is nothing compared to what NHL Central Scouting's top-ranked North American skater has already endured. Schaefer lost his mother, Jennifer, to breast cancer in February 2024. Two months earlier, his billet mother in Erie was struck and killed by a train, with her death ruled a suicide. "I've been through a lot in my life and I'd rather an injury than losing someone I love," Schaefer said Friday at the NHL's annual pre-draft combine in Buffalo. "I mean, there's a lot worse things that can happen than injuries. As for recovering from the collarbone he broke in December, Schaefer said: "I'm pretty positive with my mindset and I'm driven to want to come back. So yeah, obviously injuries, they're not fun. But I'm driven to get better and come back even stronger." Schaefer was cleared to resume skating May 1 and plans to take part in all of the combine's strength and agility tests with the exception of the bench press and pullups. Schaefer is ranked ahead of Oakville, Ont.'s Michael Misa Upbeat and talkative, he showed no hint of the pain he's dealt with by engaging reporters in opening the press conference by saying: "What's going on today? Everybody good?" Schaefer then proceeded to playfully joke and also compliment Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa, with whom he shared the podium and is the No. 2-ranked North American skater. "Not able to play as much, I got to watch a little more and got to know him. Great guy on and off ice," Schaefer said, before saying he'd be happy if Misa was selected ahead of him. Schaefer then displayed humility by acknowledging being surprised to maintain the No. 1 ranking despite having his season cut short after being hurt representing Canada at the world junior championships. "I played only 17 games and, you know, why are you at the top of that list?" he said. "I played in those 17 games, I took it as opportunities and I worked as hard as I could and left it all out there." NHL Central Scouting chief Dan Marr told The Associated Press the debate in ranking Schaefer over Misa was close, and wouldn't be surprised if Misa or perhaps, Boston College center James Hagens, goes No. 1 in the draft in Los Angles on June 27. Hagens is from Long Island and the top-ranked American-born skater. The top-ranked European skaters are Sweden junior teammates, center Anton Frondell and right wing Victor Eklund, who's brother William plays for San Jose. The New York Islanders have the first pick, followed by San Jose and Chicago. What separated Schaefer from the rest in the rankings, Marr said, was what he showed in his 17 games with Erie, and his performance at the Canada's Under-18 summer camp. From Hamilton, Schaefer displayed his offensive abilities in scoring seven goals and 22 points with Erie last season. That's what scouts were looking for following his rookie season in which Schaefer had three goals and 17 points in 56 games. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds, Schaefer is a two-way defenseman with strong skating and play-making ability. #TheMoment a rising hockey star turned tragedy into triumph 1 year ago Duration 1:22 The New York Islanders have the first pick in the NHL draft on June 27 Misa, is from Oakville, Ontario, and enjoyed a breakout third season in Saginaw while making the switch from wing to center. Granted exceptional status to play at 15 in 2022, he led all Canadian Hockey League players this season with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) — the most by an OHL player 17 or younger since John Tavares in 2006-07. Tavares, now with Toronto, went No. 1 pick 2009 draft to the Islanders. Schaefer enjoyed the interview process over the past week, and said he had dinner with both the Islanders and Sharks. "I'm a talker. I love all these interviews and stuff, it keeps me busy," Schaefer said. He then jokingly frowned when informed Misa had four dinners. Misa holds Schaefer in high regard, and also acknowledged he'd be fine if the defenseman was selected ahead of him. "You know what you're getting from him every night. He's all over the ice," Misa said. "When he does make that jump to the NHL, he is going to have no problem fitting in."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store