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Extremely poor pollution conditions, as seen in Delhi, carry health risks that are as hazardous as smoking ten cigarettes per day
People jog at Kartavya Path as air quality continues to remain poor in New Delhi. (PTI photo)
High levels of air pollution, as measured by a high AQI, have emerged recently as an important risk factor for coronary disease. Extremely poor pollution conditions, as seen in Delhi, carry health risks that are as hazardous as smoking ten cigarettes per day. In addition to aggravating respiratory illness, very poor air quality substantially increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Dr VC Chauhan Interventional Cardiologist, Bhailal Amin General Hospital, Vadodara shares how high AQI impacts individuals with cardiovascular diseases.
Pollution Levels and PM2.5 Concentrations (24-hour average)
Bad (200 µg/m³): Exposed to serious health risks
Very Bad (300 µg/m³): Causes critical health risks
Critical (400 µg/m³): Causes extreme health risks
PM2.5 refers to the concentration of fine particulate matter in micrograms per cubic meter of air.
The main polluters are biomass and fuel burning, adulterated fuels use, chemical pollution, and traffic congestion.
Common short-term symptoms for the heart patient during poor quality air:
The person may experience chest discomfort or a feeling of unease or panic, difficulty in breathing, and even a feeling of choking if exposed to polluted air that can activate acute coronary syndrome.
Long-term risks with repeated exposure of poor air quality to those with heart disease?
Indeed, long-term exposure to dirty air is very risky to heart patients. It allows deep penetration of pollutants in the lungs and enters into the blood. The effect then results in a diseased cardiovascular system. The consequences over time include:
• Harming blood vessels that then lead to narrowing and eventual calcification of the blood vessel; therefore, it narrows and decreases blood flow.
• High blood clotting tendency
• Hypertension from overexertion to force the blood through narrowed blood vessels.
• Extra stress on heart muscles.
• Potential disruption of the heart’s electrical system to produce arrhythmias.
Heart disease patients should take preventive measures against the poor-quality air in periods of bad air.
Ideally, it would be a good move to shift locations to places where air is cleaner. Practical alternatives are:
• Advocacy of policies and programs on clean air.
• Moving to less polluted areas for the time of peak seasons
• Indoor stay with maximum restriction on outdoor stay