The researchers stated their conclusion based on an observation of the number of heart-related medical emergencies during the 2006 World Cup of Soccer.
An examination of 4,279 German heart patients revealed that the stress brought about by the World Cup increased the number of cardiac-related emergencies by an average of nearly threefold if the national team was playing, compared to times when it was not.
The observations revealed that the number of heart emergencies peaked during events with incredibly tense moments. According to the Canadian Press, the number increased more than three times for men, and 1.82 percent for women.
Statistics also showed a fourfold increase in medical cases during games hosted by the local team.
"We definitely believe that this is statistically highly significant," said the study's senior author Dr. Gerhard Steinbeck of the Ludwig-Maximilian University.
Dr. Scott Delaney of Montreal's McGill University Health Centre commented on the study, saying that the findings "certainly does make sense" in relation to the events that take place in hospitals.
Relating the findings to the local hockey events, Delaney noted a surge in cardiac cases during Team Canada's Olympic games.
The study received further recognition from Dr. Packer Ward of the University of Chicago Medical Center.
"We've known for long time that emotional stress of many types triggers a hormonal response that can lead to heart attacks, heartbeat arrhythmia and other problems," Dr. Ward told HealthDay. "This [study] is just a natural extension of that."
Dr. Steinbeck recommended that further studies be done as to how cardiac cases may be minimized during major sporting events.
The findings of the experiment were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
