Freshman college football players experienced a significant spike in blood pressure as their first season progressed, according to research published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers found that by the end of the season, more than half of the players had developed either pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension, which is especially concerning in young individuals.
“High blood pressure is not a good thing at any point in life, but especially during the first two decades,” said Dr. Aaron Baggish, who works at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Linemen at greatest risk
Research showed that offensive and defensive linemen were at the greatest risk for developing high blood pressure. By the end of the season 83% of linemen had developed either pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension. Researchers concluded that linemen should limit the amount of alcohol they consume so as not to increase their risk of hypertension, and they should be assessed for obstructive sleep apnea.
Other findings from the study include:
- The average blood pressure reading of a football player before the season was 116/64. After the season, the average blood pressure reading rose to 125/66.
- Of all the players, 47% met the criteria for pre-hypertension after the season, while 14% had stage 1 hypertension.
- Three factors that increased the likelihood of developing high blood pressure over the course of the season were what position the athlete played, if they had a family history of high blood pressure, and if they gained weight during the season.
One of the most alarming findings was how many linemen developed structural changes in their heart throughout the season. During the preseason, two linemen tested positive for concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, but by the end of the season, 20 linemen had developed the condition. Researchers reported that the change in left ventricular mass was directly correlated to an increase in blood pressure.
In hopes of preventing football players from developing hypertension or adverse heart conditions, researchers recommended that linemen should have their weight monitored throughout the season, be placed on a healthy diet regimen, and participate in proper strength training programs.
Dr. Silverman comments
This study is truly eye-opening, but as they noted in their research, there were other contributing factors that led to an increased likelihood of developing high blood pressure, like family history, weight gain, etc. There are also other outside factors that could contribute to the rise in blood pressure that are not accounted for in this study.
Researchers conducted this study on freshman athletes. Many people go through significant lifestyle changes from their senior year in high school to the end of their first year in college. Mom and Dad are no longer around to ensure their son is getting a balanced meal every day, and the rigors of trying to balance an academic career while playing football can weigh heavy on some. We’ve already discussed how lack of sleep can lead to an increase in blood pressure, and I doubt most freshmen football players are getting a full eight hours of sleep every night.
Related source: MedPage Today