College football linemen at increased risk of hypertension

College football players face a lot of risks—and those are not limited to hard hits causing physical injuries. New research suggests that players—especially linemen—are at a greater risk for increased blood pressure.

The American College of Cardiology conducted a study of 87 football players—including 30 linemen—to determine whether they meet the criteria for pre-hypertension. Prior to the season, 57 percent of lineman and 51 percent of non-lineman met the criteria. After the season, 90 percent of lineman met the criteria for Stage 1 hypertension, compared to just 49 percent of non-lineman.

These changes in blood pressure were accompanied by thickening of the heart walls and a significant decline in contractile function.

“The findings are important and point to a different cardiac adaptive response in linemen compared to non-linemen,” William A. Zoghbi, MD, the William L. Winters Chair in Cardiovascular Imaging at Houston Methodist Hospital, said. “While questions abound, the current investigation has highlighted this unusual adverse cardiac remodeling in sports with the hope of alerting players and their health care professionals, furthering research, and ultimately addressing ways to protect and improve the health of all athletes in team sports.”