People across Taiwan have been glued to their TVs, watching the highs and lows of Taiwan’s best ever performance at an Olympic Games. But for some people, all those tense moments are affecting their health.
Family members of Taiwan’s Olympic athletes sit watching the big screen, wildly celebrating every point scored and medal won. And it’s not just them getting caught up in the moment.
One woman says she felt physically sick watching the Games. Another says it was so tense her head hurt.
And the list of symptoms doesn’t stop there. Dr Lin Wei-wen of Taiwan Adventist Hospital says clinics have seen a rise in patients complaining of high blood pressure, chest pain, and an irregular heart beat. He says that’s because people who watch the Olympics are feeling the effects of adrenaline in their bodies.
Lin says that generally speaking, when we’re feeling tense or excited, our bodies produce adrenaline. That stimulates the heart, making it beat faster and raise your blood pressure.
Lin says for most people, that’s nothing to worry about. Just take a quick break and you should be fine. But Lin says if you have a history of heart problems, you should be more careful.
He says if you suddenly feel unwell, or get tightness or pain in your chest, you should immediately take a break. If that doesn’t help, Lin says you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Team Taiwan’s stellar performance has got the whole country cheering. And that’s an activity best enjoyed at home with friends, not from a hospital bed.