Prevent heart attacks by running for the bus

Short bursts of exercise can cut risk by up to 51%

-  MARTIN BAGOT

SHORT bursts of exercise, such as carrying heavy shopping or running for the bus cut the risk of heart attack, a study shows.

Fewer than five minutes a day of such activity was shown to have a big health impact, especially for women.

Women who averaged a daily 3.4 minutes of intense activity, but did no formal exercise, were 45% less likely to have a heart attack, stroke or heart failure than those who did none.