With the 2015 Men’s March Madness Tournament well under way, basketball, brackets, and televised college basketball game marathons are taking over many of our weekends.

March Madness is a time of the year filled with excitement, suspense and thrill, as well as a hefty increase in the consumption of alcohol and unhealthy eating. What people don’t often realize is the high-energy and high-calorie activities associated with March Madness is also a time of the year for an increase in your heart rate and blood pressure.

How can March Madness negatively affect your health?

Stress

Constant cheering, shouting in excitement or anger, anticipation, jumping up and down, and waiting in suspense as you watch your team up against their opponent are all forms of stress on the mind and body. Unfortunately, the body cannot differentiate between “good or exciting” stress and “bad” stress. If stress is not kept under control, it can lead to high blood pressure.
Unhealthy foods and alcohol. Unhealthy foods and alcohol are often traditional companions at sporting events. The games are often watched at bars or arenas, where processed foods with too much salt and fat are the menu’s main event. Things like fried chicken wings, pizza and French fries contain enough sodium and fat to send your blood pressure through the roof. These foods as well as alcohol contain empty calories. Alcohol negatively affects your liver, the way certain medications work, and often makes you drink and eat more in general.

Lack of exercise

Whether on television or live, basketball games draw people to their seats – a place where not much physical activity happens. With basketball marathons running all weekend, little time is left to get in that exercise that we all need. Even thirty minutes of exercise can make all the difference.  Managing your mental and physical stress is important for your overall health, not just during March Madness.

March Madness Health Tips

• Be picky about what you eat and drink. And remember, in moderation!
  
• Substitute fried for grilled.
• Replace mayo and ranch dressing for Greek yogurt.
• Choose low calorie alcohols and avoid sugary additives.
• Drink plenty of water to control your appetite.
• Get moving.
• Keep basketball excitement alive - get your buddies together on the basketball court for a game.
  
• Just 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week is all you need.
• Keep your emotions in check.
• Control yourself – don’t let a missed shot or lost game get the best of you.
• Surround yourself with positive people who know how to enjoy any game.
• Don’t smoke – enough said.