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Daily exercise may cut heart attack risk even in polluted areas: Study
Moderate cycling for four or more hours per week cut risk for recurrent heart attack by 31 per cent. |
Regular physical activity may reduce the risk of heart attack, even in areas with
moderate-to-high levels of traffic pollution, a study claims.
"While exercise is known to reduce cardiovascular disease risk; pollution can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease," said Doctor |
Higher levels of pollution were associated with more heart attacks, however, the risk was lower among those who were physically active, the researchers found. |
Moderate cycling for four or more hours per week cut risk for recurrent heart attack
by 31 per cent; and there was a 58 per cent reduction when all four types of physical
activity (together totalling four hours per week or more) were combined, regardless
of air quality.
Those who participated in sports had a 15 per cent lower rate of initial heart attacks and there was a 9 per cent risk reduction associated with cycling, regardless of air quality, the researchers said. Compared to participants with low residential NO2 exposure, those in higher risk areas had a 17 per cent increase risk in first heart attack and 39 per cent for recurrent heart attack, they said. |