Scientists in Germany have found another risk factor for heart attack. Heart disease is now a deadly problem the whole world is facing today. Heart disease is also one of the leading health concerns in Bangladesh. According to the German study sitting in traffic jams nearly triples the risk of suffering a heart attack. This is specially relevant for drivers, bicyclists and people using public transportation. Researchers think it may be a result of exposure to airborne pollutants that inflame the lungs and damage arteries, but the emotional stress of passing through traffic could also be a factor.

The above German study was based on interviews with more than 900 heart attack survivors from 1999 to 2001. The patients described their activities thoroughly on the days they suffered these attacks and during the previous four days. On the day they experienced their heart attacks, they spent more time on the road than the days before. The researchers established that the likelihood of a heart attack was almost three times as high if the subjects had been in cars in the previous hour, four times as high if they had been on bikes and three times as high if they had used public transportation.

One expert believes that the emotional stress of driving or traveling is the most important factor. The close association between anger and heart attack had been understood and accepted for years.

There are also several other studies that indicate a link between exposure to traffic and heart disease. These studies have found an increased risk of heart problems among traffic police, taxi drivers and others whose jobs require them to be on the road.

One of the studies found that people living near major roads had double the risk of dying of a cardiopulmonary disease. It is very difficult for us (general public) to improve our 'spectacular' traffic system at this moment but what we can do is to find out ways to relieve the stress it causes. Don't always expect everything to go right in the streets. If you do, you will be greatly frustrated with perhaps high blood pressure. Accept it is very usual that things can and will go wrong may be that is the calmest way you can escape from this problem.