Don’t blow a fuse: Protect your heart during March Madness

From buzzer beaters and bracket busters to Cinderellas and Sweet Sixteens, there’s no time in sports quite like the NCAA Tournament. If nothing gets your blood pumping quite like the excitement of March Madness, take a moment to think about the heart pumping that blood – and make sure you’re protecting it. 

“There’s nothing like the thrill of watching your favorite team play, or, in the case of March Madness, a team you know absolutely nothing about busting brackets nationwide,” says cardiovascular surgeon, Dale Mueller, MD of HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. “However, these intense situations, as exciting as they are, can be a risk factor for cardiac events like heart attacks.”

Here are some recommendations to make sure your heart is in tip-top shape as you cheer for your favorite team during March Madness.  

Busting your health bracket

Watching basketball games is meant to be fun. However, especially for individuals with cardiovascular conditions, these emotional, stressful and possibly angry moments can damage more than their bracket. A higher heart rate and increased blood pressure can lead to heart attacks or strokes.

The NCAA Tournament has the added complication of lasting over several weeks. For dedicated fans, that can mean weeks of chronic stress – another risk factor for cardiac events.  

Shoot (and score!) for better heart health

Though you can’t avoid all cardiac events, you can take steps to lower your risk of dangerous events like heart attacks and strokes.  Here are a few tips:

1. Don’t bet with your life. Sports betting may make you feel more engaged with games during the NCAA Tournament, but it can also increase stress if things go wrong. Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose (and seek help if you have a gambling problem). 
2. Get your water break. Limit alcohol consumption while watching games and make sure to stay hydrated. 
3. Hit the gym. Don’t leave the training to the college athletes. Incorporate moderate physical activity into your daily routine. Build up to 150 minutes of exercise a week to improve your cardiovascular fitness. 
4. Get screened. Talk with your doctor about any family history of heart disease and stroke and which health screenings may be right for you.
5. (Don’t) apply pressure. Make lifestyle changes like cutting back on salt and alcohol, quitting smoking, getting enough sleep and reducing stress to lower your blood pressure. If these changes are not enough to lower your numbers, speak with your physician about medication. 
6. Take a time out. If you find yourself getting stressed during a game, take a breather. Tune out for a few minutes, take a walk or grab a healthy snack. 

Most importantly, remember that the athletes on the court are college students and that a win or loss should not cause you to have a major medical event. 

“At the end of the day, this sport is just a game and it’s not worth losing your health for,” says Dr. Mueller. “If watching sports is risking your heart health, it’s time to take a step back.”

Heart care that keeps you in the game 

Does your blood pressure go through the roof when watching your favorite team play? It might be time to talk to your provider. As the state’s largest cardiovascular network, we make it easy for our patients to connect to heart, lung and vascular specialists and access a full spectrum of treatments and services close to home. 

Find an HCA Florida Healthcare cardiologist near you.