Air pollution is not the challenge to the environment but also to the health of the person. There is various health issues related to the bad air quality which directly or indirectly impact the health of the person.
Overview
Air pollution is not the challenge to the environment but also to the health of the person. There is various health issues related to the bad air quality which directly or indirectly impact the health of the person. Lungs are main organs which are associated with the bad air quality because this gets exposed directly because of the breathing. Breathing system and cardiovascular work closely together and poor quality of air affects the lungs which impacts the heart health. There are heart issues which are related to heart abnormalities and include heart attack, hypertension and arrhythmias.
Understanding Air Quality Index (AQI)
Air Quality Index (AQI) is the measure or scale used to look for the level of pollutants in the air. The quality of air depends on the pollutants and scale can vary depending on the number of pollutants in the air. There are various categories used to measure the quality of air and these include:
- 0 to 50: Good
- 51 to 100: Moderate
- 101 to 150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
- 151 to 200: Unhealthy
- 201 to 300: Very Unhealthy
- 301 and above: Hazardous
How Poor Air Quality Affects the Heart
There are various ways or methods that can affect the heart health due of poor air quality. These conditions triggers inflammation, oxidative stress and blood functions. With more exposure to air pollutants over the time there are various conditions which can evolve with the time related to heart and these include:
- It can cause atherosclerosis (Narrowing of blood vessels)
- Can increase blood pressure over the time.
- Can lead to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
- Oxygen supply to heart gets reduced with the time
- This situation is responsible for clot formation over the time.
Heart Abnormalities Caused by Poor AQI
- Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Arrhythmias (Irregular Heartbeat).
- Heart Failure
- Atherosclerosis (Hardening of Arteries)
Who Is at Higher Risk
Bad air quality is not good for any individual but some people need to be more careful related to this situation. Here are the lists of individual who need to be more careful related to bad air quality index:
- Elderly individuals
- Person suffering from lung diseases
- People with heart conditions or pre-existing conditions related to heart
- Smokers
- Diabetics and obese individuals
- Pregnant women
- People residing in highly polluted areas of the city
- People having very poor diet and less movement in their life styles
Heart Abnormalities due to Poor AQI
The symptoms of heart abnormalities caused by poor AQI are often similar to other cardiovascular conditions. They may include:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Person feeling breathing issues
- Person feeling weakness
- Person with shortness of breath problems
- Problem of rapid heartbeat
- Person can have swelling in legs
- Person feeling dizziness
- Person feeling fainting
Preventive Measures for Protecting Heart Health
Here are list of preventive measures that can be adopted to protect heart from bad air quality. Here is the list:
- Keep air quality clean by using air purifiers in room
- Continuous check on AQI
- Avoid outside activity on high pollution days.
- Always wear good mask while going outside.
- Keep diet balanced for heart health.
- Avoid smoking regularly
- Keep your body hydrated
- Do regular heart checkups for good health.
List of test used to detect Heart Health
Heart Checkup-1 Package (Book Now)
Cardiac/Myocardial Infarction Panel (Book Now)
Heart Screen (Book Now)
GDIC Heart Fitness Package (Book Now)
GDIC Healthy Heart Package (Book Now)
Conclusion
Air quality index has huge impact on the health of a person. There are various causes which can degrade the air quality like smoke, particulate matter and other irritants. Bad air quality can impact the overall health of the person but there are some specific organs which are directly involved in the condition due to bad air quality. Lungs are mainly impacted by the condition but heart is also largely impacted by the condition. Lungs and heart function in coordination with each other and any abnormality in quality of blood will directly impact the health of heart. Heart conditions like arthrosclerosis, high blood pressure, change in heart rhythms etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which AQI is considered as good for health?
AQI below 50 is considered good for health.
Can AQI cause heart attacks?
Yes, high AQI can be the reasons for heart attacks.
Can wearing mask help to reduce exposure to pollution?
Yes, wearing mask can help to reduce exposure to pollution.
Which types of masks are good to avoid the pollution exposure?
Masks like N95 and N99 are used to avoid pollution exposure.
How to avoid air pollution health conditions?
You can avoid frequent outside visits and use air purifiers to improve air quality in home.
Does air pollution cause high BP?
Yes, air pollution can be the cause of high BP.
