Football is matter of life or death for some

London - For true football fans, a loss by their favourite team really could be a matter of life or death. New research by public health officials in the northeast of England shows that deaths from heart attacks and stroke rose on the days the home team suffered a defeat.

"On average, over a five-year period, the incidence of heart attack and stroke amongst male supporters increased by about 30 percent when their local team lost a home match," Simon Mills, of the Public Health Group in Newcastle, told Reuters on Friday.

Deaths in women were not related to team results.

The researchers studied the results of Newcastle United, Sunderland, Middlesborough and Leeds United over a five-year period. They found a consistent link between football results and deaths from heart attack and strokes.

"People are at risk through smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise -- but a heart attack or stroke can be precipitated by a 'trigger factor' such as anger, frustration or low mood," said Dr Bill Kirkup, a co-author of the study.

The researchers hope to publish the report, "A matter of life and death: population mortality and football results," in a medical journal later this year.

Kirkup, a lifelong Newcastle supporter, said he is not suggesting that fans give up going to matches because it would be impossible to avoid everything in life that might involve strong emotions or unusual exertion.

But he added the best way to avoid heart attacks and strokes is to reduce underlying risk by quitting smoking, improving diet and taking regular exercise.

"Our results remind us that, to many, football is much more 'a matter of life and death' than it is 'only a game,'" he added. -- Annanova News

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