How stressful is watching the World Cup? Scientists tested me to find out

A BBC correspondent participated in a scientific experiment to measure the physiological stress responses of watching high-stakes football matches. The study used medical equipment to track heart rate and brain blood flow during an England World Cup game.
Why it matters
The experiment explores the intersection of sports fandom and human physiology, providing insight into how emotional investment in sports impacts physical health.
Image caption, Prof Damian Bailey hooks James up to scientific equipment to track his responses
The article is a human-interest science piece with no political bias.
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