Amateur soccer players in their 40s and 50s struggle to identify some cardiac symptoms and tend to put off seeking medical attention even when they experience chest pain, researchers have found. 

An Australian study of 153 ‘masters’ age players found one in five experienced prodromal symptoms such as unexplained tightness in the chest in the past 12 months but only a quarter of these players went on to seek advice from a doctor. 

The players participating in the online survey (mean age 49.3, mainly men) included those competing at Masters A and B grade level as well as social players.  

The survey showed only a third of players were confident they could recognize signs of an MI in other players and half did not think they would recognize symptoms in themselves.