- Firefighters have the highest heart risk of all emergency services workers
- Heart attacks are known to be the leading cause of death for on-duty personnel
- Tackling fires puts a strain on the heart and increases blood clotting, experts say
Ben Spencer Medical Correspondent For The Daily Mail
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Firefighters are at risk of having a heart attack because of their exposure to extreme heat while exerting themselves, a study has shown.
Researchers found tackling fires puts a strain on the heart, increases blood clotting and worsens the function of blood vessels.
Firefighters have the highest heart risk of all emergency services workers, with a heart attack the leading cause of death for on-duty firefighters.
Some 45 per cent of on-duty deaths among firefighters in the US are due heart issues, with most heart attacks occurring as fires are put out.
Researchers found tackling fires puts a strain on the heart, increases blood clotting and worsens the function of blood vessels
The new study by experts at Edinburgh University suggests this is due to the combination of extreme heat and the high physical exertion needed to fight fires.
The researchers believe blood thickens and becomes more sticky under these conditions, increasing blood clotting by 66 per cent – a major contributor to heart attack risk.
They did not calculate at what temperature physical activity becomes dangerous, but said people who exercise in hot climates may also be risk – warning them to take regular breaks and keep well hydrated to reduce potential harm.
The experts, whose work was published in the Circulation medical journal, carried out a series of experiments on Scottish firefighters.
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The healthy volunteers – 16 men and three women – either performed mock rescues from a burning two-storey building or undertook light duties.
The firefighters wore heart monitors that continuously assessed their heart rate and its electrical activity.
Blood samples were also taken before and after, including measurement of a protein called troponin that is released from the heart muscle when it is damaged.
Those taking part in the rescue had core body temperatures that rose by 1C and stayed that way for three or four hours. There was also some weight loss among this group, while their blood vessels also failed to relax in response to medication.
Firefighters have the highest heart risk of all emergency services workers, with a heart attack the leading cause of death for on-duty firefighters
Their blood also became ‘stickier’ and was more than 66 per cenet more likely to form clots than the blood of people in the control group.
The researchers, from the University of Edinburgh, said the results showed ‘striking changes in physiological measures of cardiovascular function’.
They said: ‘Participation in fire simulation training places an inordinate strain on the cardiovascular system.’
They believe the increase in clotting was caused by a combination of fluid loss in sweat and an inflammatory response to fire exposure, which resulted in the blood becoming more concentrated and therefore more likely to clot.
They also found that exposure to fire causes minor injury to the heart muscle.
Professor Nick Mills, from the University of Edinburgh, who led the research, said: ‘Our study has shown a direct link between the heat and physical activity levels encountered by firefighters during the course of their duties and their risk of suffering a heart attack.
‘However, we’ve also found that there are simple measures, such as staying well-hydrated, that firefighters can take to reduce this risk.’
Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the BHF, said: ‘Firefighters routinely risk their lives to save members of the public. The least we can do is make sure we are protecting their hearts during the course of their duties.’
‘Most of us will never experience the scorching heat of a blazing inferno, but it’s still good general health advice to drink plenty of fluid and take breaks if you’re working up a sweat in high temperatures.’
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