Heart Risk Football Championship Important check for heart disease

Excitement at European Football Championship: drug check for heart disease
Millions of spectators are currently watching the European Football Championship in France. In many people, the games lead to enormous emotional tension; Pulse and blood pressure rise. This can be dangerous for heart patients. Experts have handy tips to help keep track of the major event out of harm's way.

With exciting games the heart is racing
Millions of spectators are currently watching the European Football Championship in France. With exciting games it can come to heart racing. For people with heart disease, such as coronary heart disease (CHD), this can be dangerous. Because then there is the danger that it comes in pre-damaged vessel walls to small tears, where blood clots form. Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Meinertz, CEO of the German Heart Foundation, said in a recent press release: "Emotional stress, as it can arise in an exciting football match, often causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. This increase is safe for healthy people, but can be threatening for patients with CHD in individual cases. "

Millions of fans are currently watching the European Football Championship in France. With exciting games the heart is racing. Health experts give tips on what should pay particular attention to the heart. (Image: bernardbodo / fotolia.com)

Have the medication checked by a doctor
The experts advise heart patients to take the games of the European Football Championship as an opportunity to have their medication checked by the doctor: Could possibly a blood pressure lowering be necessary? Are cholesterol levels really good? In an earlier report, the Herzstiftung pointed out that it was important to take the necessary medication as conscientiously as usual during the matchdays. If patients take beta-blockers, the dose may need to be increased slightly before the game, and it is important to clarify the increase and the time interval with the attending physician.

Strain on the cardiovascular system
Even healthy people should look out for watching the European Championships, especially the diehard fans. "Although the European Championship lasts only a few weeks, the following applies: abstinence from continuous sitting, poor diets in the form of salted and greased snacks, which are usually high in calories, and excessive alcohol consumption put a strain on the cardiovascular system" according to Prof. Meinertz. The Herzstiftung advises here to healthy alternatives such as crisp vegetable shred with quark or paprika dips from the Mediterranean cuisine.

Do not passively follow EM
Spectators are advised not only to be passive participants in the sport during the tournament (until July 10), but to become active themselves: people who are sufficiently resilient can go jogging for half an hour, riding a bicycle or going for a quick walk about five times a week. For heart patients it is an advantage if they can retire during the European Championship games - but this would be difficult in the crowd at public viewing. With excitement and rising blood pressure, it is best to lie down and relax for a while. From a naturopathic point of view, relaxation techniques such as autogenic training and progressive muscle relaxation are available for stress management. The half-time break can be used meaningfully: a short walk around the house you can come to rest again. (Ad)