Ask the doctor: Can getting too excited while watching sports be harmful to my heart?
Another issue is that people who are having heart problems often wait until the game is over before going to the hospital for evaluation. Physicians who work in emergency departments always expect a surge in visits right after the end of the Super Bowl and other huge sporting events. Some of those folks come in with heart attacks that have caused more damage than they should have because they delayed seeking help right away. It's conceivable that some people don't reach the hospital alive because they delayed calling 911 while awaiting the outcome of the game.
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