Air Pollution Linked to Heart Disease

You may want to stay indoors the next time a smog alert is issued in your city, because researchers have linked air pollution to an increased risk of heart attacks.

Researchers from the Intermountain Heart Institute found that heart disease patients who were exposed to polluted air had an increased risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke or similar "heart disease episode." While doctors and health experts have stressed the dangers of air pollution for decades now, this is one of the first studies linking it to heart disease.

According to the study's lead researcher Kent Meredith, a person's risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke begins to increase when the levels of fine particular matter (PM) reach or excess 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air. For most regions, including the U.S., this is considered to be a moderate level of air pollution, not severe/extreme.

Researchers say that people who have a history of heart disease are the most susceptible to illness during days on which the pollution is 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air or higher.

"Patients who have known heart disease are going to be more vulnerable on those days when you see the air pollution spike," said cardiologist Kent Meredith. "Those are days when they probably ought to adjust their activities.It's a very complete, very big study in terms of the number of patients, which allows us to look for even small effect."

So, what should you take away from this study? For starters, it's important for people with heart disease, as well as those who are at risk for heart disease, to take a proactive approach towards their health and well-being. Turning a blind eye to levels of airborne pollution could increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, such as revealed during this study.

And if there's a smog alert issued in your city or country, try to limit the amount of time your spend outdoors. The longer you stay outside, the greater your risk of experiencing a heart episode triggered by the pollution. Keep an eye on the pollution levels and wait until they subside before staying outdoors for extended periods at a time.