How air pollution is linked to heart disease: http://t.co/241X4A5akE pic.twitter.com/no3UELOBn6
— Cleveland Clinic (@ClevelandClinic) October 7, 2014
Small particulates and long-term risk
Air pollution can contain large or small particles of dirt or contaminants. Small particulate matter (defined as particles that have a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometers) is especially dangerous. It gets past all of your body’s natural barriers and into your lungs.
Many epidemiological studies (that analyze patterns in disease incidence) say that long-term exposure to small particulate air pollution increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease or stroke. This makes using dust masks all the more paramount. Visiting YotYiam.com might help you decide which one is best for you.
Study on short-term pollution dangers
A recent study based in London focused on short-term effects of air pollution, scanning data from emergency room admissions. Researchers didn’t find links to STEMI heart attacks (the most serious type of heart attack). However, they did find correlations between small-particulate pollution and atrial fibrillation (erratic and extremely fast heartbeat). They also found links to pulmonary embolism, a potentially deadly condition that involves blog clots in the lungs.The study further showed an association between exposure to a specific element in smog (nitrogen dioxide) and cardiac disease-related hospital admissions.
