Altering daily routines to watch late-night or early-morning football matches can impact men's health and physiology if continued for many consecutive days.

Doctor Doan Vinh Binh, from the Medical Information Center at Tam Anh General Hospital TP HCM, explained that testosterone, a sex hormone crucial to men's lives, is influenced not only by age but also by sleep, nutrition, and metabolism. Disruptions to these factors can lead to a decline in testosterone, negatively affecting men's physiological capabilities.

Prolonged late nights

Insufficient sleep over several days can lead to numerous health issues, including reduced testosterone. A 2021 study by the University of Chicago, United States, published in the medical journal Jama, involving 10 healthy men, revealed that sleeping under 5 hours per night for one week could decrease testosterone levels by 10% to 15%. Prolonged sleep deprivation also diminishes concentration, increases fatigue, affects work performance, and reduces overall vigor.

The study also indicated that attempting to catch up on sleep the following morning does not help the body recover or regain testosterone levels; instead, it disrupts men's circadian rhythms.

Excessive alcohol consumption

Men often consume beer and alcohol during football viewing gatherings. However, continuous alcohol consumption can inhibit the activity of the brain-pituitary-testicular axis and damage leydig cells in the testicles, which produce about 95% of testosterone in men. Consequently, testosterone levels in men decline, increasing the risk of reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and affecting sperm quality. Moreover, excessive alcohol intake can suppress the central nervous system, making it difficult for men to achieve pleasure.

Frequent late-night eating

Instant noodles, grilled dishes, fast food, or fried items are common choices for many watching late-night football. The habit of eating heavily late at night can increase the risk of overweight, metabolic disorders, and impact sleep quality. According to doctor Binh, being overweight can cause testosterone levels to drop.

Prolonged sitting, inactivity

A match lasts almost two hours. Sitting continuously for many hours while watching football can affect the temperature of the testicular area, the body's primary site for testosterone production. Inactivity also increases the risk of overweight, dyslipidemia, and other factors that reduce the production of nitric oxide (NO), which is essential for the erection process.

Exciting World Cup matches attract men. Photo: Thai Thanh.

Stress

Intense football matches can evoke a range of emotions in viewers, from anticipation and excitement to disappointment. When stress is prolonged, the body releases more cortisol. Doctor Binh stated that high cortisol levels over extended periods not only inhibit testosterone production but also prevent the body from using testosterone effectively, impacting male physiology.

Doctor Binh advises that to maintain health during the World Cup season, men should balance work and leisure to avoid affecting sleep quality. He recommends limiting alcohol and tobacco, choosing healthy foods, and taking advantage of opportunities to exercise between match halves. Men can also supplement with a natural trio of eurycoma longifolia, French maritime pine bark extract, and ocean oyster extract, which stimulate the body to increase endogenous testosterone and nitric oxide production, thereby boosting energy and enhancing physiological function.

Dinh Dieu