Increase in a few extra pounds and decrease in activity can increase the risk of heart failure. A study of American doctors revealed the fact.

"What this study shows is that even overweight men who are not obese have an increase in heart failure risk," said Dr. Satish Kenchaiah, lead author and researcher as a epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and is now at the U. S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

At the same time even a little exercise would be helpful in decreasing the chances of a heart failure.

Even a slight increase in weight could lead to heart failure resulting from heart attacks, diabetes, or high blood pressure. In the study group, which involved people of an average 53 years, increase in a pound, increased the heart trouble risk. It was concluded that obese physicians faced 180 percent increase in their chance of heart failure compared with their leaner colleagues. When the study was initiated approximately 5% doctors were obese, and 40% were overweight.

Vigorous physical activity was helpful in bringing down the heart risk even in obese men. But the men who were both lean and active proved to have the strongest hearts.

Diet too had its share. Those who regularly started their day with a heart-healthy breakfast cereal of whole grains had fewer heart problems.