It’s the major sporting event of the calendar year for many football fans, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. England may have crashed out early but soccer lovers everywhere are downing more than a few beers and settling back to watch the big matches.

It’s certainly been one of the most entertaining World Cups of recent years, with high drama and a bucket full of goals.

But behind the celebrations there could well be a rise in the number people either trying to get a sick note for a day off work or suffering some kind of alcohol related incident and, according to police, an increase in cases of domestic violence. There’s no doubt that alcohol combined with a competitive atmosphere can often lead to problems that have an impact on the NHS and GP services.

In Northamptonshire, the NHS took the start of the Word Cup as an opportunity to educate people on the right choice of care, to help reduce any impact there might be on A&E departments during the month long event. Options for patients can vary from going to the cupboard to get painkillers for a hangover, visiting the pharmacist, getting an appointment with your GP or, in emergencies, calling an ambulance or visiting A&E.

Police have warned of an increase in domestic abuse cases during the tournament with new research out that shows a significant rise when England are playing. The research has taken data from the last three World Cups which shows a 38% increase when the national team loses but also a 26% increase when they win.

A number of police forces and social services, including in Manchester and Essex, have taken the opportunity to launch campaigns to help highlight and hopefully reduce the risk of domestic abuse increasing over June and July. A major TV campaign was also launched at the beginning of the tournament.

The emotional trauma of an England football match along with the influence of drink and an increased competitiveness all combine to make the World Cup a challenging time for our medical services, particularly GP practices that may well see the brunt of the fallout.

Prior to the World Cup starting it was estimated that the cost to businesses could be around £1 billion with staff taking unauthorised time off and ‘pulling a sicky’. Whether it is the ubiquitous hangover or something a little more serious, there’s no doubt that GP surgeries will have been tested during the tournament.

It’s not just alcohol or heightened competitiveness that can lead to a visit to the doctors. The increase in tension and the ups and downs of a vital match can have damaging effects on those with a heart condition, highlighted by the 69 year old Brazil man who had a heart attack and died while watching his team win a penalty shoot-out in the last 16.

While many working in GP surgeries will be grateful that England took an early shower and exited the competition, it highlights the pressure a national event can often cause for our medical services. Unfortunately, there is little or nothing that can be done to stop the inevitable increase in demand at these times, except to ensure that the practice is fully prepared.

5 Tips for Surviving the World Cup

1. Make sure everyone is aware of the footballing timetable and that enough staff are on duty for those important matches.
2. Consider using the event to help raise awareness of the issues such as the dangers of drink, smoking cessation and the possibility of a rise in domestic abuse.
3. Take stock of any supplies you may need to order to make sure you can cope with increased demand.
4. Be sure to liaise with other agencies such as police and social services that may need to be informed or utilised during and after the matches.
5. A number of your registered patients may have gone to Brazil to enjoy the festivities at first hand – it may be a good idea to check the symptoms of conditions like yellow fever and other diseases common to the region.