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Having a degree lowers risk of heart attacks

New research says better educated people are less likely to smoke and do more exercise and subsequently have better heart health.

According to a new study, getting a degree cuts the risk of suffering a heart attack by a third.

Experts are of the opinion that the longer someone stays in education, the lower do they risk developing a coronary heart disease.

Those who are educated for an extra 3-6 years after school are 33 percent less likely to have a heart attack later in their lives.

The research was carried out at the University College London and Oxford University and says that this is because educated people are less likely to smoke, eat healthier diets and exercise more. They are also likely to get better jobs and have higher incomes, which would cause them less stress and anxiety which is hugely beneficial to cardiovascular health.

The new study, which is based on 540,000 people, is the first to comprehensively prove that education makes a difference despite someone's start in life.

According to the lead author of the study, Dr Taavi Tillmann of UCL, the study looks at the pure effect of education.

He said 50 per cent of the educational impact was linked to lifestyle - with graduates more likely to have healthier blood pressure, lower cholesterol and be less likely to be obese - all factors linked to exercise, diet and smoking.

The research was published in the British Medical Journal and is the strongest evidence to date about the health benefits of education.

( Source : deccan chronicle )
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