Lions playoff run can affect fans' health

As the Detroit Lions' playoff run continues, not only will it positively affect businesses across the Detroit River in Windsor, it will also impact the mood Lions fans everywhere.

Craig Greenham is an associate professor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Windsor. He says there is a shared negative experience among fans who are used to losing.

"This shared negative experience leads to a bit of an identity fusion where one feels an intense or a visceral belonging with a group," Greenham said.

"But when it comes to fandom itself, it's socialized and it's generally something that's passed down from our parents or a combination of our peers or our proximity to sports groups; access to their games on broadcasts."

That negative experience has recently given way to a positive one.

The Lions won their first playoff game in 32 years two Sundays ago, beating the Los Angeles Rams 24-23.

And this past weekend, they followed it up by beating the Tampa Bay Bucaneers 31-23 .

Detroit now goes on to face the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game on Sunday. The winner heads to the Super Bowl.

But the Lions' run is a rare moment in the team's history. The team has only made it to the NFC Championship game once in its history.

While Lions fans are likely going through an emotional roller coaster, University of Windsor sport management professor Terry Eddy says there isn't much research on the long-term health effects.

"There's still a lot we don't know about that," said Eddy, who is also an expert on fandom.

"I would say the overall benefits of feeling that level of investment and being able to ride the roller coaster generally does offset the negatives that come when we're on the downside of the track so to