Heart Disease
Air Pollution and Heart Disease
The American Heart Association says that exposure to air
pollution contributes to the development of cardiovascular
diseases—heart disease and stroke.
The Canadian Medical Association in their Summary
Report of August 2008 on the national illness costs of air
pollution said that 42% of air pollution associated acute
premature deaths over the next 23 years will be as a result
of cardiovascular disease.
The aging of Canada's population
combined with the vulnerability of those over 65 due to
underlying illnesses such as heart disease probably accounts
for the increasing numbers of deaths in the later decades
of the projection. Children and infants with compromised
health conditions are also at increased risk from air pollution.
Causes of Heart Disease
Tobacco smoke is a very strong risk factor for cardiovascular
disease. Smokers have 2 to 4 times the risk of developing
coronary heart disease than non smokers; they are at about
twice the risk of non smokers for sudden cardiac death.
Exposure to second hand smoke also increases the risk of
heart disease.
Nicotine causes a short-term increase in
blood pressure, heart rate and blood flow from the heart.
It can also cause arteries to narrow. The carbon monoxide
in cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen the blood
can carry. When combined with nicotine's effects, this creates
an imbalance between cells' increased demand for oxygen
and the reduced amount of oxygen that the blood can supply.
Another source of cardiovascular risk is air pollution.
Since people are now exposed to increasing air pollution
over an entire lifetime, this has also become a serious
health problem. Vehicle exhaust, tire fragmentation and
road dust, smelting and other metal processing, construction
and demolition activities, wood-burning fires, industrial
plants, volcanic emissions, all produce tiny particles that
can wreak havoc in our bodies. The harmful effects are not
only from the particles themselves being inhaled, but they
carry toxic gases which also enter the lungs with the particles.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from vehicles and power plants is
a serious concern. However, NO2 levels are often higher
inside than outside, mainly where gas stoves and kerosene
heaters are used.
Reducing Exposure
People with respiratory or heart disease should avoid prolonged
exposure to high-traffic areas and unventilated heating
elements in their homes.
Recent research suggests that one possible link between acute exposure to
particulate matter and sudden death may be related to sudden
increases in heart rate or changes in heart rate variability.
Since the particles and chemicals in tobacco smoke are such
high risk factors, we highly recommend a 'no smoking' policy
in homes and offices.
|
