Cardiovascular effects of air pollution on humans is increasing as the air around us worsens. The need for controlling air pollution has reached a point that, at the very least, we must try to prevent heart disease caused by air pollution by improving the air we breathe in our homes. Negative effects of air pollution on the body are heavily documented. Now, we are learning that pollutants may even affect our cardiovascular system and the heart.
To put this in perspective, smoking cigarettes or putting on body weight increases our health risks more than air pollution. However, as the air around us becomes more polluted, we experience increased exposure. We know that prolonged exposure, particularly to heavy contaminated air, will make us ill: allergies will flare up, fatigue will set in, and breathing will become more difficult. For those who have pre-existing conditions such as heart disease it could have very serious consequences. Bottom-line, increased pollution exposure is shown to have a direct correlation to an increase in cardiovascular heart ailments and in some cases, can lead to death.
What are the pollutants?
Air pollution comes from man-made and natural sources and can come in a solid or liquid form. They can be chemicals or emissions from our cars and trucks. They could be from manufactured products that emit fumes called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). They also can be from industrial plants generating smokestack toxins. Even our oceans create contamination. The waves breaking on the shore are considered seawater spray contaminating aerosols. Smoke from cigarettes and forest fires pollute our air. Plants produce pollens. Moisture creates mold and fosters dust mites. Even our pets shed dander. These particulate matters vary in size and all are capable of harming our bodies. Many of these are very small particles, which can bypass our body's defense system.
The number of deaths due to cardiac problems as a result of polluted air may be small now, but are on the rise. Predictions are beginning to emerge which suggest large cities will experience as many as 60,000 deaths each year due to the effects of air pollution on the cardiovascular system. This is a staggering loss of life.
Tobacco Smoke
Secondhand smoke is one of the worst contributors to indoor air pollution. We know that exposure to just a few cigarettes a day affect the heart and circulatory system of those around us. This accelerates the progression of diseases and harms coronary function, even if you do not smoke.
Cigarette smokers have higher levels of CO in their bodies. Should smokers decide to quit, oxygen levels will return to normal. Then of course, there is the nicotine found in cigarettes. This contaminate reduces blood flow, increases blood pressure and exposes the smoker to more health risks. Combine the two contaminations and you have the long-term negative harmful impacts to the heart and cardiovascular system for those inhaling the smoke, but not directly smoking the cigarette.
Carbon Monoxide
Our cars and trucks emit carbon monoxide (CO), a very poisonous gas that is colorless and odorless. Where there is more CO in our bodies, there is less oxygen. It is as simple at that. High concentrations will kill and extended exposure will worsen respiratory ailments.
VOCs
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are gases from our furniture, carpeting, walls of our home, wood used to build our homes and many other sources. These sometimes can be very complex chemicals. We know a lot about VOCs. We know they create allergic reactions, impact our breathing and penetrate our organs including our heart.
Nitrogen Dioxide
What are nitrogen dioxide sources? Such sources as gases from gas stoves, kerosene burners, vehicles, and smokestacks from fossil fuel-burning industries. Prolonged exposure to these pollutants will weaken the body and may lead to more serious heart problems.
Industry Standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines industry standards and daily monitors the air quality of major cities in the US to ensure that these standards are being met. They issue health alerts when pollution is high. The EPA web site that provides this daily information can be found at www.epa.gov/airnow. The American Heart Association believes in these standards and warns people with heart disease and cardiovascular problems to restrict activities when these standards are exceeded. Ironically, the majority of cities do not meet the EPA recommendations.
Air Pollution Health Studies
Over the years, how air contamination affects cities has been rigorously investigated. These studies found that toxic component levels varied even within a city. As part of this studies, it was noted that people living closer to high traffic locations had higher heart related problems than those who lived farther away. In fact, people closest to a major road were more likely to die of a cardiovascular event.
Other studies have refined the details. Short-term exposure to elevated levels of particle pollution likely will expose you to a higher risk of death due to a cardiovascular event. In general, it can reduce a lifespan by a few years. Hospitals have noticed that admissions for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases rise when there are greater concentrations of air pollutants.
Conclusion
Air pollution is getting worse. We need to understand that these increases are likely to proportionally increase health risks to our body's cardiovascular system and heart. We recommend that you control the quality of the air in your home with Austin Air purifiers. Austin Air HealthMate purifiers cleanse the indoor air of the many contaminants that negatively affect your health and your heart.
Please view the video below to see how nano particle pollution increases the risk of heart attack. Nano particles cause the worst forms of plaques to build up in our body. These nano particles stick in the lungs and release chemicals which then damage blood vessels, causing artery-clogging plaques to form.
Nano Particle Pollution Effects on Heart Health
