Drop the buffalo wings and try not to freak out Super Bowl Sunday, because a new medical report says the emotional stress of a loss and high cholesterol foods can lead to fatal heart attacks, Medical News Today reported Tuesday.
Stress often leads to the “fight-or-flight” response, placing stain on the heart and increases in blood pressure.
The study cites a spike in heart-related deaths following the 1980 Super Bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the L.A. Rams. The Steelers suddenly beat the Rams in the final quarter, causing heart-related deaths to shoot up to 15 percent among men and 27 percent among women in the two weeks after the loss.
High cholesterol foods also contribute to literal Super Bowl heartbreak. Sports fans often consider the game a freebie diet day, but the heart-conscious should think again.