Firefighters Face Higher Heart Risks in a Blaze

A large U.S. study suggests that firefighters face a larger risk of dying of heart problems while combating a blaze than was earlier thought. The risk of a heart related death while putting out a fire was about 100 times more than the risk at any other point of time.

The study was published in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. The study, conducted by the Harvard researchers, examined 1,144 on-duty firefighter deaths between 1994 and 2004.

The study revealed that 449 deaths (40%) of the on-duty fatalities during that period were due to heart disease. Out of the heart related deaths, 32% occurred while fighting blazes; 13 % while responding to an alarm; 17 % while returning from a call and 13 % during physical training.

The researchers found that the risk of death from heart disease was at its peak during active firefighting; up to 100 times greater than the risk of dying during other routine work.

The chances of heart-related death were 2.8 to 14.1 times as high while responding to an alarm, 2.2 to 10.5 times as high while returning from an alarm, and 2.9 to 6.6 times as high during physical training.

Dr. Robert Myerburg, cardiologist at the University of Miami Medical School remarked, "It (the study) reconfirms that the absolute risk of cardiovascular death in firefighters is low, but that the relative probability is high during stressful activity.”

Referring to the fact that job pressure, overexertion coupled with being overweight increase the risk of dying from heart disease, lead author Dr. Stefanos Kales of the Harvard School of Public Health, "There's direct evidence to support that certain specific activities that firefighters do could trigger coronary heart disease events."

Firefighter groups are progressively taking notice of heart risk. In order to promote fitness and nutrition, The National Volunteer Fire Council 2003 began an awareness program in 2003. Under the said program, volunteers offer free health screening and display hale and hearty cooking and fitness methods.

The study was funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Massachusetts Public Employees Retirement Administration Commission.