Doctor Nguyen Thi Minh Duc, Head of the Neurology Department at the Neuroscience Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, stated that continuous late-night football viewing can lead to prolonged sleep deprivation. This, combined with underlying health conditions, alcohol consumption, smoking, or stress, can increase the risk of cerebrovascular events.
Sleep is a period for the body to recover and regulate physiological activities, including blood pressure and heart rate. When sleep is insufficient, the natural biological clock is disrupted, triggering a cascade of reactions. These reactions cause blood pressure fluctuations, an increased heart rate, and blood vessel constriction. For individuals with high blood pressure or hardened blood vessel walls (atherosclerosis), these changes make blood vessels more prone to blockages or ruptures.
Days of sleep deprivation can also heighten inflammatory responses in the body, accelerate atherosclerosis, and cause blood to clot, forming blood clots. If there is an irregular heartbeat, such as atrial fibrillation, blood is more likely to pool, forming clots that can travel to the brain and cause blockages.
When experiencing insomnia, the nervous system becomes stressed, increasing the risk of atrial fibrillation—a condition where the heart beats irregularly. This makes it easier for blood clots to form in the heart, travel to the brain, and cause ischemic stroke.
According to Doctor Duc, during the World Cup season, these risks are more likely to occur because many people who stay up late tend to consume more alcohol, tobacco, coffee, energy drinks, and salty, fatty snacks. The excitement and stress experienced while watching matches cause significant fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate.
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Doctor Minh Duc examining a patient for stroke screening. Illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital |
To ensure health while following the World Cup, Doctor Minh Duc advises fans not to stay up late for many consecutive nights. Instead, they should selectively watch matches of genuine interest and arrange for adequate compensatory sleep to allow the body to recover.
Individuals with underlying health conditions must adhere to their prescribed medication regimens, avoiding self-discontinuation or missing doses. It is advisable to limit alcohol and tobacco, while also controlling one's diet, avoiding excessive consumption of sugary, salty, and fatty foods. If warning signs of stroke appear, such as facial drooping, one-sided arm or leg weakness or paralysis, difficulty speaking, blurred vision, or sudden loss of balance, patients should immediately go to the nearest medical facility for timely emergency care.
According to Doctor Duc, high-risk groups include individuals over 50 years old, those with high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation, obesity, smokers, those with a history of transient ischemic attacks, or previous strokes. These individuals should undergo regular stroke screenings. Early assessment of risk factors and the detection of carotid artery stenosis, atrial fibrillation, or potential cerebrovascular lesions help doctors develop appropriate treatment and prevention strategies, reducing the risk of cerebrovascular events.
Trong Nghia
