It is almost common knowledge that air pollution can cause respiratory disease and lung, thereby decreasing our health, but for some time now has been concluding that pollution can also cause strokes and heart disease.
The tiny particles of soot, dust and other contaminants that are prevalent in the air have a direct connection with deaths from heart disease and clogged arteries, say researchers at the University of Melbourne.
For a person already suffering from health problems, pollution is a serious problem, because the airborne particles can aggravate the symptoms of his condition. However, according to the scientists in this new study, pollution could also trigger a heart attack or even sudden death in people with no outward symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
The results of recent research, published in the medical journal Epidemiology, shows that carbon monoxide levels are closely linked with increased risk of cardiac arrest. The effect of this is greater in persons 65-74 years of age.
According to another recent study by researchers at the University of Duisburg-Essen, blood pressure rises in proportion to exposure to particulate pollutants from vehicular traffic. Consequently, those exposed to these pollutants are at increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chronic cardiovascular diseases.
