Air pollution increases the risk of heart damage
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Yes, air pollution significantly increases the risk of heart damage and various cardiovascular diseases. This is a well-established scientific consensus supported by extensive research. Here's how air pollution contributes to heart damage: * Entry into the bloodstream: Tiny particles, especially finRead more
Yes, air pollution significantly increases the risk of heart damage and various cardiovascular diseases. This is a well-established scientific consensus supported by extensive research.
See lessHere’s how air pollution contributes to heart damage:
* Entry into the bloodstream: Tiny particles, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are small enough to bypass the body’s defenses in the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Once in the blood, they can travel throughout the body, including to the heart.
* Inflammation and oxidative stress: These pollutants trigger systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. This can damage blood vessels, making them narrower and harder (a process known as atherosclerosis), and contribute to the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
* Blood vessel damage: Air pollutants can make it more difficult for blood to flow freely, increase the likelihood of blood clots, and raise blood pressure because the heart has to work harder to pump blood.
* Effects on heart’s electrical system: Air pollution can affect the heart’s electrical system, which controls its rhythm, potentially leading to abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias).
* Structural changes to the heart: Long-term exposure can even cause subtle changes to the structure of the heart, similar to those seen in the early stages of heart failure. Recent research using cardiac MRI has found that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter can lead to diffuse myocardial fibrosis (scarring of the heart muscle).
* Increased risk of cardiovascular events: For people with existing heart and circulatory conditions, air pollution can significantly increase the risk of serious events like heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure exacerbations. Even in healthy individuals, both short-term and long-term exposure can lead to increased hospitalizations for such events.
Overall, air pollution is considered a major cardiovascular risk factor, contributing to millions of deaths worldwide each year. It’s a factor that individuals often can’t control through lifestyle changes alone, highlighting the importance of public health initiatives to reduce air pollution levels.