Heart danger to firemen

FIGHTING fires can dramatically raise the risk of heart attack, a study shows.

Firemen have the highest cardiac risk of all emergency services workers, with heart attacks the leading cause of death among on-duty staff.

Tackling blazes puts strain on the heart, increases blood clotting and worsens blood vessel function, researchers at the University of Edinburgh found.

Blood thickens and becomes stickier when physical exertion takes place in heat.

This increases blood clotting by two thirds – a major contributor to heart attacks, the study in the journal Circulation showed.