Bike to Work for Heart Health

Driving to work, rather than cycling or walking, can quadruple men's heart attack risk, Swedish research shows. Patrik Wennberg, from Umea University in Sweden, compared 651 cases of myocardial infarction, or heart attack, with 2,238 matched controls. He then looked for novel lifestyle factors and biomarkers that might predict incidence of coronary heart disease.

There was an increased risk of up to four times for myocardial infarction for those who commuted by car, compared with "active" commuters who cycled, walked or took the bus.

"Active commuting may be a feasible way to achieve the recommended guidelines of 30 minutes of daily physical activity," he said.