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Could football fan fever be real?

How stressed do you get watching the team you love?

Researchers at the University of Oxford here in the UK have found that the most passionate football fans are more likely to experience potentially dangerous levels of stress whilst watching the game they love.

When we get stressed, cortisol levels in our blood rise. Too much of this hormone over time can lead to all kinds of health issues like heart attacks.

Dr Martha Newson from the University of Oxford led the research, which studied Brazil fans during the men's World Cup in 2014.

Photo: A Brazil supporter shows his frustration after their 7-1 defeat to Germany in the 2014 semi-final (Getty Images)

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Duration:

5 minutes

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