The ongoing rise in air pollution has become a significant concern for people’s overall health. With every passing day the world’s temperature is rising and the environment is getting hotter, as pollution continues to affect the quality of air we breathe.Increasing number of cars on the streets, growing power consumption, higher cases of wildfires, and limited use of clean fuels are some of the leading sources of pollution, along with smoking, the common source indoors. According to healthcare experts, the compounds in polluted air have become the reason for a spike in cases of stroke, lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. No matter whether you live in a city, or a less populated region, even the smallest particles of pollutants in the air can lead to big problems for your heart health!
How does poor quality air affect your heart health?
In recent years, the adverse effects of poor quality air have become quite evident. Scientists have found a direct correlation between exposure to pollutants and an increasing rate of cardiovascular &respiratory diseases in major metropolitans. The worrying fact is that these ambient particles are so small that they can neither be screened nor diagnosed and can wreck the existing health conditions of a person. These pollutants initiate inflammation in the lungs or blood vessels around the heart. The hazardous effects of poor air quality can:
Damage the walls of blood vessels, making them narrower and harder
Thicken your blood to increase the chance of clot formation
Limit the movement of blood vessels, which puts strain on heart muscles
Develop abnormal heart rhythms as electrical functioning of the heart gets disturbed
Increases the chances of causing changes in the heart structure
These changes happen gradually, leading to newer heart problems, or put people with heart diseases at life-threatening risk like stroke or cardiac arrest.
What are the preventive measures?
There is no full-proof safety measure that can be taken to avoid exposure from air pollution. “One can take tips and learn more about risk factors, find resources to know about local air pollution, and take measures to reduce pollution exposure. Our entire motive is to spread knowledge and make people aware to avoid situations where they can be exposed to high levels of air pollution”, say cardiologists of AMRI Hospitals.
As an individual, work on your lifestyle – eat healthy, practice regular exercise, keep yourself updated before travelling anywhere, and lastly act responsibly.
Final Thought
The capacity of air pollution to disturb your cardiac health is a rising concern. In order to curb the damaging effects of poor quality air we all have to act together. Keep a regular tab on pollution levels, wear masks while travelling, eat a balanced diet to strengthen your body’s immunity, and don’t delay in seeking medical help, if you feel any discomfort. Timely action can save you from future complications.