According to a recent study published in the journal Circulation by the American Heart Association, soaring heat and fine particulate matter in the air could potentially double the risk of death from a heart attack. The study involved analyzing over 200,000 heart attack fatalities between 2015 and 2020 in a Chinese province known for its diverse climate and pollution levels.
The findings revealed a significant association between extreme temperatures, high levels of air pollution, and the risk of heart attack death. The study indicated that the greatest risk occurred on days with a combination of extreme heat and high air pollution levels, particularly affecting women and older adults.
Dr. Yuewei Liu, the senior author of the study and an associate professor of epidemiology at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, expressed concerns about the increasing frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme temperature events and their adverse effects on health. Additionally, the presence of fine particulate matter in the air, which can synergistically interact with extreme temperatures, poses a global environmental issue that negatively affects cardiovascular health.
The study highlighted that the risk of a fatal heart attack during two-day heat waves with heat indexes at or above the 90th percentile (ranging from 82.6 to 97.9 degrees Fahrenheit) was 18% higher. Furthermore, the risk increased to 74% during four-day heat waves with heat indexes at or above the 97.5th percentile (ranging from 94.8 to 109.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
In the case of four-day heat waves with fine particulate pollution levels exceeding 37.5 micrograms per cubic meter, the risk of a fatal heart attack doubled. This is significant considering the World Health Organization recommends no more than 15 micrograms per cubic meter for a limited number of days per year.
Although fine particulate matter particles are less than 2.5 microns in size, they have the potential to enter deep into the lungs and irritate the lungs and blood vessels surrounding the heart. Common sources of these particles include car exhaust, factory emissions, and wildfires.
Dr. Liu emphasized the importance of reducing exposure to extreme temperatures and fine particulate pollution as a preventive measure against premature deaths from heart attacks, especially for women and older adults.
In conclusion, this study sheds light on the connection between soaring heat, air pollution, and the increased risk of heart attack death. The findings suggest that taking steps to minimize exposure to extreme temperatures and fine particulate pollution could potentially save lives.
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