Air pollution and heart health are recently two debatable topics with raising industrialization worldwide. Although it cannot be noticed directly there is a strong link between air pollution and heart health which give the most concerning effects.
This article is trying to give a brief explanation about this link, what can we do to manage the situation, and more.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Air pollution is a condition in our atmosphere when harmful substances like gas particles break down their balance.
Other than typical industrial emissions, and vehicle traffic emissions there is a number of household reason leading to indoor air pollution.
- Cleaning products
- Gas Stoves, Open Fireplaces, and Candles
- Household smoking etc.
When you are exposed to most of these harmful substances, they can easily get access into your bloodstream through your lungs.
This become a reason to cause several heart diseases, long-lasting cancers, and many serious medical conditions.
How Air Pollution Affects Your Heart Health
When we breathe in polluted air, the particles can trigger inflammation in our bodies.
This is becoming a reason for heart disease which is caused by inflammation that damages the blood vessels.
Other than that air pollutants can increase the having heart attacks by making clots after significant levels of exposure.
There is research that implies when you are exposed to air pollution as a long-term habit it can directly impact the symptoms of serious heart attacks.
According to the findings of the American College of Cardiology people who are closer to air-polluted areas have a higher risk of atherosclerosis. Which can easily cause arteries and can lead to heart disease later.
What are the Most Vulnerable Groups?
While some communities often face air pollution, some of them suffer from heart diseases their age which have high vulnerability. These groups include:
1. Elderly people:
Older communities often face heart disease because of air pollution. Compared with grown adults, an older person has a weaker respiratory system which can often experience issues in the heart.
2. Children:
Children’s lungs and hearts are still developing, and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults.
Compared with an adult, a kid’s respiratory system is not fully built up and is not often exposed to polluted air. Therefore they have a higher vulnerability of getting heart issues at the early stages.
3. Pregnant women:
Pregnant period of a woman is quite challenging and can higher sensitive to outside influences.
When pregnant women often face air pollution it can create several risks of complications, such as preeclampsia and premature birth. It can also affect the development of the fetal heart.
4. People with pre-existing heart conditions:
People who often suffer from heart conditions like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or heart failure, have a higher probability of getting heart problems when they expose to air pollution than other people.
What You Can Do to Protect Your Heart Health
1. Monitor air quality
Check the local air quality index regularly and avoid outdoor activities when the air quality is poor.
There are a number of mobile applications and websites that give real-time air quality in your area. Most of the time they are not 100% accurate, but give a reasonable idea about the behavior of the air pollutants in the atmosphere.
2. Use air purifiers
Air purifiers are a good option you can try to control the air quality in limited areas. More importantly, they can filter most types of fine air pollutant particles by filtering a number of stages.
As personal protection air purifiers are good utilities to place in your home, office even in your car.
3. Avoid smoking and second-hand smoke
There are over 7000 chemicals present in cigarette smoke which is the key reason to d lung cancers and a number of serious medical conditions around the world.
Although you are free from the smoke, if your close ones often smoke, you are a second-hand smoker. Which is more serious than normal smoking.
If you can stop cigar smoke exposure it is a good option to stay away from heart problems.
4. Exercise indoors
Exercising in outdoor areas is okay with lower air pollution levels. But what about the peak day? Exercising is a good option to keep your heart shape and control the fat level in your body.
But while you are exercising proportionally large volume of air is inhaled. Imagine what you doing in air polluted area outside. That’s indoor exercise is safe sometimes.
Consider exercising indoors at a gym or at home instead.
Secondary Air Pollutants Effects: Understanding the Impact on Environment and Human Health
FAQs
Q: Can air pollution cause heart attacks?
A: Yes, air pollutants can get access to our bloodstream through the respiratory system and create blood clots.
Q: I am also in a risk category of heart disease from air pollution
A: All the people often experiencing air pollution have a slightly higher chance of getting health issues.
But if your body is weak like elder persons, you are not fully grown like a kid, if you are pregnant or often have heart-based medical problems, you also have a sort of chance in there.
Q: What can I do to protect myself from air pollution and have a good heart?
A: You can monitor air quality, use air purifiers, avoid smoking and second-hand smoke, exercise indoors on poor air quality days, use public transportation, plant trees, and greenery, and support clean energy policies and technologies.
Conclusion
Air pollution is a serious threat to our health, and its impact on heart health cannot be ignored.
By taking steps to reduce our exposure to polluted air and making healthy lifestyle choices, we can help to protect our cardiovascular system and reduce our risk of heart disease and other problems.
Stay informed and take action to protect your heart health today.
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