Getting stuck in traffic proves a heart-stopper

If you get stuck in traffic heading out of Auckland this Labour Weekend, consider doing some yogic breathing.

A study has found that being stuck in traffic, either in a car or on public transport, almost trebles the risk of a heart attack for at least an hour afterwards.

Findings for the study on heart attack risk were based on 691 heart attack survivors in the city of Augsburg in southern Germany who were interviewed about their activities in the four days before the attack occurred.

Researchers found that one hour before the attack happened, exposure to traffic was twice as frequent as at any other time.

Patients had been travelling by car but some had been on bicycles and others on public transport.

Emissions from car exhausts, noise and stress are likely to be the main causes of the sudden increase in risk.


Being stuck in traffic is a daily reality for Auckland commuters.

Auckland Regional Council figures for last year show that it took an average 37 minutes to travel from Oteha Valley Rd to Auckland City on the Northern Motorway, a distance of 15.3km.

However, during off-peak times this trip would take only 10-12 minutes.

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