How do Vikings games impact fans' health?

[WCCO-TV News, December 20, 2022]

Success with stress. The two have gone hand in hand for the Minnesota Vikings and their fans this season.

Each win often takes a toll on the purple and gold faithful. So how do Vikings games impact fans' health? And can they do anything to relax while watching?

As a fan himself, Dr. Kevin Harris, a cardiologist at Allina Health's Minneapolis Heart Institute, understands. "It's an emotional roller coaster," Harris said.

But as a cardiologist, he worries about the stress caused from each nail-biting Vikings victory. "It's a real phenomena that people can have cardiac events related to a sporting event," he said. "We know that severe mental stress, just like severe physical exertion, has an effect on the heart."

Share this article