SPORTS
RECENT SURVEY ALARMS PORTUGUESE DOCTORS
Sport as is known can not only improve people’s health but also subject them to different kinds of diseases. Many people have recently died in the sports arenas and stadiums. It mainly relates to mad supporters. Doctors call on the European Soccer Championship organizers to be held in Portugal in summer 2004, to install defibrillators in stadiums.
A survey conducted in Sweden has alarmed Portuguese doctors: it showed that heart attacks caused death rate had increased by 60 percent during the last world championship. In doctors’ opinion, the death risks can increase with supporters coming to stadiums.
Portuguese doctors responded very seriously to Swedish colleagues’ warnings. Chairman of the Cardiologists’ Federation Manuel Karrejeta stressed the necessity to provide 10 stadiums, which is going to host 31 matches, with resuscitators and defibrillators to render an immediate medical aid to people having heart attacks.
Dr. Karrejeta recommended supporters not to have too much food, coffee and alcohol before coming to matches, thus, reducing the infarct risks.