Chicago ? The stressful emotions of the Super Bowl or other big sports contests can increase the risk of chest pains or cardiac arrest for spectators, new research suggests.

The study of 4,279 German heart patients examined the effects of World Cup soccer matches, though many cardiologists said the findings would apply equally to viewers of other tension-inducing games.

Researchers found that the rate of heart attacks among men in a region of Germany was three times greater on days when the national team played in soccer matches than during periods when there was no game. A medical team from Munich is publishing the results in today’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Doctors have long suspected a link between sports watching and heart trouble, but the new report provides some of the most solid evidence to date, as well as a Super Bowl warning for heart patients.

Experts said spectators with a known heart condition should make an extra effort to relax during games and not overindulge in alcohol or fatty foods.

Experts said it’s vital for heart patients to continue taking their medication on game day and watch out for danger signs.