Cardiologists have warned people could be “fatally frightened” this Halloween.
Chris Hughes
With spooky fun limited last year because of coronavirus restrictions, people are expected to go all out on 31 October with their devilish deeds and petrifying pranks – but medical experts fear this could spark potentially devastating consequences.
Dr Ravi Assomull, Harley Street-based Consultant Cardiologist said: “When humans become scared, stressed or excited the body's natural response is to pump out adrenaline, creating a surge that increases blood pressure, heart rate potentially placing stress on the heart muscle and coronary arteries.
“In a scenario where someone is frightened, the same response kicks in regardless of whether they are under genuine threat or have been fooled into believing so.
“Occasionally it can cause harm where a combination of increased blood pressure, a fast heart rate and excess adrenaline interacting with the heart muscle results in stunning of the heart with symptoms mimicking a heart attack.
“Women are more likely to be affected and both physical and emotional stresses can be triggers.”
To reduce the risk, M&Ms are encouraging the nation to scare responsibly and have appointed former ‘Love Island’ hunk Chris Hughes as their Chief Scare Officer.
He said: “Halloween could go one step too far this year and we don’t want anyone to be fatally frightened. I’m tired of being scared out of my wits every year, which is why I’m pleading the nation to ‘Scare Responsibly’ this year.”
To view some advice on the dos and don’t of scaring, check out Chris and M&Ms’ Scare Responsibly video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bT-HmUuzsY