Kansas City Star: Doctors warn: With Chiefs in Super Bowl, KC fans are at greater risk of heart attack

The Kansas City Chiefs are about to play in Super Bowl LIV, making it the most important game to the team's fans in 50 years.

With the high stakes, cardiologists are warning that a perfect storm of circumstances may put some fans at risk of suffering a heart attack.

The Kansas City Star talked to Dr. James O'Keefe, a preventative cardiologist with Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, to see what fans can do to prepare for the big game and take care of their hearts.

“This is a stressful thing Kansas Citians have coming up,” Dr. O'Keefe said.

“Especially for such a big thing like a Super Bowl and we’re all so excited in Kansas City to have our team vying for the championship. Maybe it’s just because we’re in it, (but) it feels like there’s especially a lot of excitement around this game, both here in Kansas City and nationally, internationally.

“It’s not like you can say don’t take it so seriously. A lot of people are very emotionally attached to their team and take it personally.”

Read the full Kansas City Star article: Doctors warn: With Chiefs in Super Bowl, KC fans are at greater risk of heart attack

Man grabbing his heart next to LIV Super Bowl football
Photo credit: Neil Nakahodo, The Kansas City Star

Related Content

FOX 4 News. New at 5: One Year Later, 44th & Wornall, Kansas City, MO
Sep. 23, 2019

FOX4: Chiefs superfan celebrates anniversary of surviving near-fatal heart attack

After surviving a serious heart attack, Dan Boos came to Saint Luke's to show appreciation for his doctors and care team for saving his life.
Thumbnail
Jan. 10, 2019

FOX4: Bystander CPR helped save Chiefs superfan

After a live interview on FOX4's morning show about his custom Chief's bus, Dan collapsed. He was having a heart attack and had no pulse. Watch how bystander CPR was crucial to his survival.