If you ride your bicycle to work in heavy traffic, you may get your adrenalin pumping in more ways than one, reports the Daily Mail.
A study published in The Lancet says that spending time in traffic, whether you’re a driver, cyclist, or commuter, tops the list of everyday risks that could bring on a heart attack.
In terms of exposure to heavy traffic, cyclists are the most vulnerable to pollution, along with stress and exercise – each overlapping contributors to heart attacks.
The study analyzed 36 pieces of research, for the first time looking at “the last straw” risk factors that triggered a heart attack – rather than underlying causes of heart disease.
Researchers found traffic exposure caused 7.4 percent of heart attacks, while physical exertion was responsible for 6.2 percent of cases. Air pollution causes 5 to 7 percent of heart attacks, and drinking coffee or alcohol represents 5 percent.
The benefits of exercising outdoors outweighed the risks from air pollution for most individuals, said a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation. She urged people not to be put off running, walking or cycling in towns and cities.
“If someone wants to avoid a heart attack they should focus on not smoking, exercising, eating a healthy diet and maintaining their ideal weight,” said cardiologist Dr Tim Chico.