Physical activity and heart attacks

Jeremy Morris died at age 99.5.  He established the connection between physical activity and health in the 1950’s with a fascinating study.  Long thought to be a good idea, a strong scientific case for health and longevity benefits of physical activity hadn’t been established until Morris studied the difference in cardiac events between double-decker bus conductors  in London who climbed the equivalent of 60 flights/ day compared to relatively sedentary drivers.  The drivers had twice as many heart attacks.  The conductors were a bit thinner but this didn’t account for all the difference.  Being active on the job appeared to be a major factor.  The study, based on observations, remains compelling.  Later, he went on to discover that it was a good thing for people to be active after heart attacks.  We take all this for granted now.  Morris remained active walking or cycling for at least 30 minutes most days of his life into his 90’s.