How Air Pollution Affects Your Heart

Air pollution, such as city smog and wildfire smoke, doesn’t only take a toll on your lungs. It can affect your heart as well. As a Californian, it’s important you take steps to protect yourself.

The Heart-Pollution Connection

Air pollution may make it more likely that you’ll develop heart disease. If you already have heart disease, air pollution can make it worse. There’s strong evidence of a link between outdoor fine particulate matter (particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less) and heart disease. Those particles can come from burning gasoline oil, diesel fuel, wood and other sources.

Air Pollution Side Effects

When it comes to air pollution and heart disease, particulates don’t increase your risk as much as other risk factors such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and smoking. Still, the health issues of air pollution may include:

• Chest pain
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Stroke
• Sudden cardiac death

These risks are higher if you have:

• A history of heart attack, bypass surgery, angioplasty or stroke
• An internal cardiac defibrillator
• Blockages in the arteries in your neck or legs
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Heart failure
• High cholesterol
• Low socioeconomic status
• Obesity

Symptoms to Know

If you’re exposed to fine particulates, you may have these symptoms, especially if you already have heart disease:

• Chest, neck or shoulder pain or tightness
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath

Causes of High Pollution

Air pollution may be high when:

• Roads are busy, so cars and trucks are emitting a lot of exhaust
• Smoke is in the air from wildfires or prescribed burns or from campfires, fireplaces and wood stoves
• Weather is calm, since rain, snow or wind can help clear particulates from the air

These particles are tiny, so risk can be high even inside buildings.

You can check the air quality index to see how high air pollution is in your area at any given time. Many weather apps also display air quality.

Protect Your Heart From Pollution

There are steps you can take to lessen your risk. Protecting your heart starts with reducing your exposure to particulates:

• Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.
• Exercise indoors when air quality is poor. If you don’t have indoor options, lower your activity level. For example, walk instead of running. Skip outdoor workouts altogether if the air quality index is red or purple.
• Steer clear of smoke from fireplaces and campfires, and, if possible, wildfires and controlled burns.
• Use facemasks, vehicle cabin air filters and indoor air purifiers to reduce the particulates you breathe in. Check your home’s HVAC filters and if possible, invest in high-quality, hospital grade or HEPA filters.

You can also talk to your healthcare provider about taking antioxidant supplements, which may be beneficial. And, to keep your heart as healthy as possible, be sure you’re treating any conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.

Take steps to keep your heart healthy, so your overall risk is lower. Choose a healthy diet, exercise and don’t smoke.