Uganda: Are You Fit Enough to Watch World Cup?
News Desk
... reduced immunity to include a wide range of infections like
frequent colds, glandular fever and pains with no clear cause
(diagnosed as fibromyalgia: back pain ...
New Vision (Kampala)
June 13, 2006
Posted to the web June 14, 2006
Raphael Okello
Kampala
In 2001, Sports Club Villa were playing their last game of the season
against Majji Football Club and were leading with 1-0 when Julius of
Majji equalised. One Sanyu, a die-hard Villa fan, collapsed. In
Nigeria, Bola Ogunleye suddenly slumped and died on February 6 this
year after Yusuf Ayila, a Super Eagles player, missed a penalty at the
Africa Nations Cup quarter-final match between Nigeria and Tunisia.
Doctors fear that with the rise in factors abetting cardiovascular
complications (wrong diet, sedentary life, HIV), football will soon
join the list of killers.
In the ongoing World Cup in Germany, pressure, excitement and tension
are increasing and will continue with time and stage. How many will
still be standing by July 9? Fans, with or without health complications
(heart problems, diabetes and hypertension) have died or fainted as a
result of the excitement, pressure and anxiety. It could be you, a
relative or friend. So, are you fit enough to watch the World Cup?
Why fans collapse or die
Dr John Omagino, a cardiothoracic surgery consultant and deputy
director Uganda Heart Institute, explains that the body normally works
at 15% of its heart capacity. When excited, it readjusts by using the
85% reserve. However, when the reserve is exhausted, someone collapses.
"When the body is excited, blood pressure, heartbeat rate and breathing
increase. Blood vessels are forced to enlarge to let through an
increased supply of blood to the heart and all other functional body
organs. When the body loses reserve to accommodate that need, it
fails," says Omagino.
Excitement-inducing activities raise body activities to between two to
five times its normal function. The heartbeat increases from 72 times
per minute to 100 or more times per minute and blood pressure also
increases.
The body has normal pressure required to pump blood to the rest of it
and normal pressure required to pump blood to the ventricles. And the
normal pressure levels are 130/90 or less. The 130 represents the
pressure pumping blood to the body (hystolit) and 90 represents the
pressure pumping blood to ventricles (diastolit).
During excitement, a football fan with a normal pressure level (130/90
or below) should be able to adjust to the increase in heartbeat rates
as well as increased blood pressure levels. But if a fan has diseases
like high blood pressure, hypertension or diabetes, the system will
break down.
"The blood pressure for those with hypertension is normally 180/100.
During excitement, it increases by 50 or more, putting it over 200. And
since the body was already having problems with 180/100, the person
will get a stroke," Omagino says.
He explains that although normal bodies (physically fit) readjust,
normality is relative and people should not take their health for
granted. One may look normal but may have salient problems like partial
clogging of blood vessels, which cannot handle pressure above normal
levels.
Omagino says such health irregularities never show symptoms but are
potential causes of heart attacks when a fan is excited.
Psychological effects
Psychologists say football should be good for health. Guston
Byamugisha, a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Kyambogo
University, says it helps to relieve stress.
"For many people in Uganda, the work environment is very stressful and
not professionally designed. The extended nature of our families also
leaves nothing to look forward to after office. So football creates a
necessary diversion," he says.
Byamugisha explains that the problem comes up when two football fans
become so engaged in it that it becomes a personal competition. This
creates tension, stress and anxiety. When the team loses, it is taken
personally and the fan develops depression and blinding anger.
Stress, anxiety and depression have an effect on an individual's
physical health. Effects include sleeplessness, fatigue and trauma.
The physical symptoms stem from reduced immunity to include a wide
range of infections like frequent colds, glandular fever and pains with
no clear cause (diagnosed as fibromyalgia: back pain, chest pains and
angina).
Others are high blood pressure, headaches, sweating, hormonal problems
(disturbed menstrual cycle, loss of libido), skin irritations and loss
of appetite.
How to watch safely
Fans with pressure, hypertension and diabetes or heart complications
should avoid emotional excitement because there is little room for
drugs to reduce pressure to safe levels. Keep in touch with your doctor
for advice.
Check your blood pressure and stop watching if you feel hyper, avoid
places choked with cigarette smoke and temptation to take beers with
sugar ingredients.
Dr Jjuuko Ndawula, a consultant on alternative therapy, says mushrooms
help.
"Mushrooms have potassium, which regularises your heartbeat and
improves oxygen supply to your brain," he says.
For stress, eat tree tomatoes or temerines. "They promote mental
calmness and inner strength. Jackfruit also calms down anxiety and high
sensitivities. The high sugar and low fibre releases tension in nerves
and muscles," Ndawula says. Pigeon pea also calms the nerves in the
face of ecstatic excitement.