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Study finds link between heart disease and air pollution

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Those who have been shown by lab tests to have one or more of the most common risk factors for heart disease may want to limit their exposure to air pollution, as a recent study from the American Heart Association shows that air pollution increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

The association said that exposure to fine particulates in the air, like those produced by the burning of fossil fuels, is most strongly linked to heart disease risk. The study says that jobs involving working around traffic or power generation are the most dangerous.

Lead author of the study, Robert Brook, said that even short amounts of exposure can increase a person's risk for developing heart problems.

"Particulate matter appears to directly increase risk by triggering events in susceptible individuals within hours to days of an increased level of exposure, even among those who otherwise may have been healthy for years," he said.

The study recommends that all patients with cardiovascular disease should be educated about air pollution, and those who work in environments with poor air quality should have their heart health tested.