An in depth study by the Medical University of Innsbruck suggests heart attacks account for 40 per cent of all tourist deaths in the Austrian Alps. Scientists believe the figures demonstrate the importance of holidaymakers carrying out regular exercise before heading out onto the slopes during their vacation.

Heart attack stats show preparation is vital
Detailed research by experts at the university suggest some heart-related deaths could have been avoided if the individuals concerned had carried out more than two hours of sport per week in the run-up to their ski holiday.

Dr Bernhard Metzler, associate professor of cardiology at the university, commented:

"Every year millions of tourists visit the Tyrolean Alps to participate in a variety of winter sports, each of which carries a certain risk of accident and injury.

"Sudden cardiac death accounts for a staggering 40 per cent of the total fatalities amongst winter sports tourists in the Austrian Alps and of these acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) is the leading cause."

Further research also revealed the timing of the deaths as significant - over half of the heart attacks occurred during the first two days and within a two hour window of hitting the slopes.

Dr Gert Klug, lead author of the research, believes poor exercise is behind many of the tragic cases of alpine holiday deaths:

"The fact that most of the infarcts (heart attacks) happened in the very early phase of the vacation hints at a causal relationship between lack of preparation for the intense regime of physical exertion and exposure to high altitudes and low ambient temperatures.

"From previous studies it is known that each of these factors might trigger acute myocardial infarction."

 [source: The Telegraph ]