How Does Air Pollution Affect Your Heart?
Pollution is undoubtedly one of the leading causes of death globally. Many experts believe it is responsible for millions of premature deaths every year. Unfortunately, it is not listed as a cause of death by many health organizations. Although pollution itself will not likely cause death, it can trigger a disease that will cause death or worsen an existing disease condition. That is why it is difficult to estimate the exact death caused by pollution or the number of people affected by this problem. However, pollution is a dangerous problem that must be avoided as much as possible. This article will look into how air pollution affects the heart and how we can prevent it. But first, what is pollution and what causes it?
What is Pollution?
Pollution is the contamination of the environment with harmful substances that causes unfavourable effects. There is air pollution, land pollution, and water pollution. We are more exposed to air pollution than other types of pollution. We breathe in the air all the time. Unpolluted air consists of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, noble gases, and water vapor. Oxygen is the only part of the air that our cells need for survival. However, the remaining gases in the air are not harmful to us. We will simply breathe them out. But when the air gets polluted, some gases that are dangerous to our bodies mix with the air. When we inhale contaminated gas, it goes into the lungs and finds its way to the bloodstream. From there, the dangerous components can affect any part of the body.
What Causes Air Pollution?
Air pollution is caused by anything that can release poisonous or harmful gas into the atmosphere. The most common causes of outdoor air pollution are gaseous industrial waste, exhaust from automobiles, smoke from burning substances, and dust. The most common indoor pollution usually comes from our cooking. If there is not enough space for combustion gas or smoke to escape from the kitchen or an effective chimney, it can pollute the atmosphere inside the house. Smoking can also cause air pollution.
Outdoor pollution is more significant than indoor pollution. The atmosphere of Industrial areas is usually more polluted than that of residential areas. Also, you can expect more pollution in areas around heavy traffic compared to the place where the traffic is light. In the same place, pollution will be high during busy times than when there are little movement or activities. The most common air pollutants are
- sulfur oxides
- carbon monoxide
- lead sulfide
- Ammonia
- Hydrocarbons
- Ozone
How Does Air Pollution Affect Your Heart?
Among the dangerous effects of pollution on the body are its effects on the heart and the circulatory system. Air pollution may have the following effects on the cardiovascular system:
Heart Attack:
A research shows that exposure to air pollution causes atherosclerosis and a more rapid accumulation of calcium in the coronary arteries, which can increase the risk of a heart attack.
High Blood pressure:
Air pollution can lead to systemic inflammation, thereby making the blood vessels narrower. It can cause atherosclerosis, especially in the arteries leading to the kidney. This will make the blood exert more pressure on the walls of the blood vessels, leading to an increase in blood pressure. A significant change in blood pressure can have a harmful effect on the heart.
Increase risk of blood clotting:
When blood clots, it blocks the blood vessel, leading to different heart and heart-related diseases.
Damage to the blood vessel:
Apart from clotting, air pollution can cause more damage to the blood vessels. Inhaling a significant quantity of air pollutants over a long period can make the walls of the blood vessels harder. The vessels will also get narrower. It can lead to premature ageing of the blood vessels.
Fluctuation in the rate of heartbeat:
Air pollution has been associated with abnormality in a heartbeat. This is due to the change in the electrical impulse produced by the heart. Heartbeat abnormality may be dangerous to heart health as well.
Heart failure:
Air pollution can change the structure or form of the heart. This may consequently lead to heart failure or other heart problems.
How Can You Prevent Air Pollution?
It is difficult to prevent air pollution. The best thing is to avoid an area with a high level of pollution. Certainly, there is no place with absolutely pure air. What makes the difference between one place and another is the level of pollution. You should avoid industrial areas as much as possible. It would help if you also avoided places with heavy traffic. There is no evidence that wearing a nose mask can significantly lower the risk of complications due to pollution. Still, there is no harm in wearing them when visiting industrial areas. If you work in a place where air pollution is high, it may be crucial to wear protective gear regularly.
Generally, many people will be able to cope successfully with moderate pollution and may only need to avoid a high level of pollution. But if you have an underlying condition that may be worsened by pollution, you should also avoid even moderate pollution levels. Therefore, it may be essential to find out the pollution level of your residential area and areas you visit frequently. You can easily search for this information online. You should also mind the time you pass through areas with heavy traffic. There will be less pollution when the traffic is light and a higher level of pollution when the traffic is heavy.
Proper ventilation in your home design can help prevent indoor pollution. You can also enhance proper and clean air ventilation by installing a chimney in your home. You can also reduce the risk of air pollution by choosing an electric stove or cooker to gas or kerosine cooker. It would be best if you also avoid smoking in places where there is no proper ventilation.
Since you cannot absolutely avoid pollution, there are some activities you can do to strengthen your heart and counter the effects of pollution. These include regular exercise and reduction of stress, among others.
We Can Help You
It is impossible to avoid air pollution. You can only reduce it to the minimum level possible. However, you can take care of your heart so that the harmful effects of pollution can be nullified. We can advise on steps to take to strengthen your heart. We can also help you treat all heart and heart-related diseases. If you need any assistance on any form of heart disease, you can contact us for medical and professional assistance. Our team of medical experts has spent many years helping people maintain a healthy heart and treating people suffering from heart diseases. We can also help you.
Conclusion
Pollution is the harmful contamination of the environment. Human beings are constantly exposed to air pollution. Air pollution can be caused by gaseous industrial wastes, exhaust from automobiles, combustion of refuse, dust, and domestic waste. There is no place where the air is absolutely pure, but the pollution level varies from place to place and from time to time. Industrial areas are the most polluted areas.
Air pollution can affect the heart and circulatory system in many ways. It can lead to the blocking and narrowing of blood vessels, causing increased blood pressure. Air pollution can damage blood vessels, increase the risk of blood clotting and cause abnormal heartbeat. Air pollution can also change the structure or form of the heart, thereby increasing the risk of heart failure.
You can reduce the risk of air pollution by avoiding passing through or staying in places with a high level of air pollution. You can also use protective gear if you work in an environment where air pollution is high. Regular exercise will not prevent air pollution but strengthen the heart hence nullifying any harmful effect of air pollution. Healthy lifestyles such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and taking healthy diets, among others, will also help alleviate air pollution effects on the heart and other parts of the body.
