We are coming to the frenzied end of another season of Americans’ most favorite sport:  FOOTBALL.  So we decided to look into some of the emotional and physiological impacts of a home team win or loss on a diehard fan.  We were fascinated by how many studies have been done by prestigious universities and research laboratories on this subject.  Here are just a few:

When the Pittsburgh Steelers won the 2009 Super Bowl, Pittsburgh area doctors saw 25% fewer circulatory heart-related deaths in the next eight days.  (Dr. Robert Kloner, University of Southern California)

Yet when the underdog New York Giants upset the favored New England Patriots in the 2008 game, Boston cardiologists reported a 20% rise in heart attacks over the same period. (Dr. Robert Kloner, University of Southern California)

There were more auto related deaths in cities whose home college or professional teams won by narrow margins.  (Stacy Wood, North Carolina State University)

Saturated fat consumption increases 16% following a loss by a beloved NFL team but declines 9% following a victory. (Psychological Science)