Researchers from the University of South Wales conducted a physiological study to determine the impact of viewing a high-stakes football match on human health.

南威爾斯大學的研究人員進行了一項生理研究，以確定觀看一場高風險足球賽事對人體健康的影響。

The methodology involved the application of comprehensive biometric monitoring to a subject during an England versus Croatia World Cup fixture. Instrumentation included ultrasound probes for cerebral blood flow measurement, respiratory devices to monitor carbon dioxide output, and saliva sampling to quantify cortisol levels. To ensure the integrity of the data, the subject remained abstinent from alcohol, thereby eliminating the confounding variable of depressant effects.

研究方法是在英格蘭對陣克羅埃西亞的世界盃賽事期間，對受試者進行全面的生物指標監控。儀器包括用於測量腦血流量的超音波探頭、監控二氧化碳輸出量的呼吸設備，以及用於量化皮質醇水平的唾液樣本。為確保數據的完整性，受試者在期間禁酒，從而排除鎮靜效果這一干擾變數。

Quantitative data indicated a classic stress response correlated with critical match events. Specifically, upon a successful penalty goal, the subject's heart rate increased from approximately 54 to 69 beats per minute within a half-second interval. This was accompanied by an elevation in blood pressure and a reduction in cerebral blood flow, the latter attributed to mild hyperventilation. Cortisol levels rose from a baseline of 4.19 nmol/L to 5.15 nmol/L by the conclusion of the event.

定量數據顯示，壓力反應與比賽的關鍵事件相關。具體而言，在一次成功的點球進球後，受試者的心率在半秒內從約每分鐘 54 次增加到 69 次。隨之而來的是血壓升高和腦血流量減少，後者歸因於輕微的過度換氣。皮質醇水平在賽事結束時從 4.19 nmol/L 的基線升至 5.15 nmol/L。

Professor Damian Bailey characterized these findings as a beneficial 'fight-or-flight' activation, analogous to mild physical exercise, provided the subject possesses a robust cardiovascular baseline. However, the researchers noted a significant variance in individual susceptibility. While the subject demonstrated a resilient physiological profile, Professor Bailey posited that individuals with pre-existing cardiac or neurological conditions could experience severe adverse effects. Such complications may include myocardial infarction due to increased blood viscosity and vascular constriction, or syncope resulting from altered cerebral perfusion.

Damian Bailey 教授將這些發現描述為一種有益的「戰或逃」激活，類似於輕微的體育鍛煉，前提是受試者擁有強健的心血管基礎。然而，研究人員注意到個體敏感性存在顯著差異。雖然該受試者表現出強韌的生理特徵，但 Bailey 教授認為，患有既存心臟或神經系統疾病的人可能會經歷嚴重的副作用。此類併發症可能包括因血液黏稠度增加和血管收縮而導致的心肌梗死，或因腦灌注改變而導致的暈厥。

The study concludes that while moderate stress responses can be benign or beneficial for healthy individuals, they pose substantial risks to those with underlying medical vulnerabilities.

研究結論認為，雖然適度的壓力反應對於健康個體可能是無害或有益的，但對於有潛在醫療脆弱性的人來說，則構成重大風險。