Traffic jams ‘can cause heart attacks’

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German researchers analysed 1,500 heart attack patients, and found they were three times more likely to suffer a heart attack for an hour after being in traffic — and an increased risk was present for six hours.

They say stress combined with pollution could be to blame. "Driving or riding in heavy traffic poses an additional risk of eliciting a heart attack in persons already at elevated risk," said Professor Annette Peters of the research centre, the Helmholtz Zentrum München.

"One potential factor could be the exhaust and air pollution coming from other cars," said Professor Peters.

"But we can't exclude the synergy between stress and air pollution that could tip the balance."