Flip on the TV this Halloween, and you're bound to find shows of horror, mystery and the macabre. Your heart is pounding and your eyes are getting big even though you know what you're watching isn't real. Why does that happen?
Mayo Clinic cardiologist Dr. Regis Fernandes knows why, and he says three things happen: Your heart rate increases, blood flow to muscles increases and adrenaline flows.
“The reaction of fight or flight response, that increases your heart rate and the blood flow to the muscles,” explains Dr. Fenandes. “It's similar to exercise. We don't know if it's good for you because you're sitting in the theater, but the physiological response of the body is very similar.”
Fernandes says the adrenaline rush is similar to the thrill you would get riding a roller coaster, an exciting proposition for some folks. Maybe not so much for others though.
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Still, many people love the thrill of terror as suspense builds during a scary movie. The body's reaction to being frightened is unlikely to hurt healthy individuals.
"If you enjoy that thrill, it’s not dangerous," Dr. Fernandes says.
In that case, fire up the scary movie this Halloween and call it a workout for your heart.
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