Polluted Air Linked To Higher Heart Attack Risk: Study Highlights Impact On India
Polluted Air Linked To Higher Heart Attack Risk: Study Highlights Impact On India
November 20, 2024, Pune: Increasing air pollution is triggering severe health challenges, particularly for those with heart conditions. A new study by researchers at Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, USA, has revealed that polluted air can cause inflammation in the body, significantly raising the risk of heart disease.
The findings, presented at the American Heart Association’s conference in Chicago, show elevated levels of inflammatory markers—CCL 27 and IL 18—among heart patients on high-pollution days. Interestingly, this increase was absent in individuals without heart disease. With heart-related fatalities already high in India, these revelations carry significant implications for the country.
In Pune, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board reported “poor” air quality with AQI readings of 238 at Katraj Dairy and 209 at Savitribai Phule Pune University on Tuesday. Other areas, like Shivajinagar and Karve Road, recorded “satisfactory” air quality with AQIs around 125.
Experts recommend heart patients, especially those with high cholesterol or prolonged exposure to polluted environments, to adopt precautionary measures as pollution levels rise.
