Football is no doubt a demanding game. It requires a lot of bodywork for you to win against your opponent. That is why football players need to follow strict health protocol. Everyone knows that unhealthy diets, smoking, and consuming fatty foods increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Usually, to prevent this from happening, exercise is often recommended as an action to prevent CVD.
But the question is, footballers have a healthy diet, exercise, follow specific training to improve their bodies, so why would a heavy team sport like football be even linked with an increased risk of CVD?
Does it have a link?
Researchers have been exploring the link between football and CVD. American College of Cardiology conducted the study, and they found out that certain conditions, like arrhythmias, were 5x common in football players compared to the public. Researchers also found out that other cardiovascular distress like structural changes in the heart was increased in football players.
According to Dermot Phelan, a doctoral student at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, US, “Players should no0t assume that leading a healthy lifestyle in terms of regular exercise means that they’re immune from developing cardiac problems and they may be at higher risk for things like atrial fibrillation,”
The antagonistic side
While several studies suggest that there’s an increased risk of CVD among football players, other studies disprove that information with different research results. In 1994, the Centers for Disease Control had conducted a study that focused on professional football athletes and their conditions that contributed to the death. The specific records-based survey found out that the risk of dying from heart disease was lower among footballers than the general public.
Other risk factors
Since football is a demanding game, in 2010 –the New York Times reported a different study that tackled cardiovascular disorders in football athletes. The research’s primary goal is to uncover many of the issues players face both on and off the field that are risks with the general public members.
1. Risk of Injury
Regardless of your chosen sport, it is inevitable to avoid injuries when you’re an athlete. But –for football players, one hard fall on the field can result in a career over. For veteran players, repeated injuries can exhaust their engagement in physical activity. In the end, players who have past injuries are more likely not to get the amount of exercise they should to prevent heart disease.
2. Mental Illness and Substance Intake
Everyone, regardless of their status in life, has tough times. For football players, they can face challenging personal and financial situations that increase the probability of psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. From past injuries limiting their gameplay, it is no doubt that football players have to shoulder a lot of pain to be successful. Individuals who suffer from mental health illness tend to take preventative steps to reduce cardiovascular diseases.
3. Unhealthy diet
Football players need to have a healthy diet for them to keep up with the opponent’s pace. Eating well is not just about avoiding fat. As an athlete, you have to be responsible for what you eat. Balanced nutrients at each meal are a must for athletes. But for veteran players, particularly those retiring, may not have the healthiest eating habit. A lot of professional athletes consume high amounts of protein for muscle tone. But without proper intake, it increases the calorie and fat intake.
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