Can triggers be cumulative in inducing heart attack in soccer game spectators?

Abstract

Emotional stress and excitement associated with watching soccer matches has been suggested to act as an external trigger for the onset of acute coronary syndromes. We report about a patient of Italian nationality who developed acute coronary syndrome while watching the European football championship match Switzerland vs. Turkey in 2008. Although greater emotional intensity was possibly involved while watching his country play two days earlier (Italy vs Netherlands), he developed no symptoms. Hence, this case throws some interesting light on what can be considered as an acute trigger by discussing the assumption of a cumulative effect regarding to the potential trigger two days before and in which way psychological stress may have influence on the onset of acute coronary syndromes.