United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
AMERICAN
COLLEGE of
CARDIOLOGY
«t
American Heart American Stroke
Association® Association^
Heart Disease, Stroke, and Outdoor Air Pollution
Did you know that air pollution can
trigger heart attacks, stroke, and
other health effects?
Medical studies show that air pollution can
trigger heart attacks, stroke, and irregular
heart rhythms—especially in people who are
already at risk for these conditions. Also, for
people with a medical condition called heart
failure, air pollution can further reduce the ability
of the heart to pump blood the way that it should.
Very small particles are the pollutants of
greatest concern for triggering these effects.
Particle pollution is found in haze, smoke, and
dust—and sometimes in air that looks clean.
This fact sheet tells you how you can:
• Get up-to-date information about your
local air quality.
• Protect your health when particle pollution is
at unhealthy levels.
Are you at higher risk?
For most people, the risk is small. Older
adults and people with risk factors for heart
disease or stroke may be at greater risk. You
are at greater risk if you:
• Have had a heart attack, angina, bypass
surgery, angioplasty with or without a stent, a
stroke, blockages in the neck or leg arteries,
heart failure, heart rhythm problems, diabetes,
or chronic obstructive lung disease.
You may be at greater risk of heart disease
or stroke (and therefore at greater risk from
particle pollution) if any of these apply:
• You are a man 45 years or older, or a woman
55 years or older.
• You have a family history of stroke or early
heart disease (father or brother diagnosed
before age 55; mother or sister diagnosed
before age 65).
• You have high blood pressure or high blood
cholesterol.
• You are overweight or not physically active.
• You smoke cigarettes.
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How can you protect your health?
Regular exercise is important for staying
healthy, especially if you have heart disease.
By adjusting when and where you exercise,
you can lead a healthier lifestyle and help
reduce your risk of heart problems or stroke
triggered by air pollution. In addition:
• If you have heart disease or have
experienced a stroke, check with your
health care provider about the best ways to
protect your health when the air quality is
unhealthy.
• If you're at risk of heart disease or stroke
and plan to exercise more than usual,
discuss this with your health care provider.
^ Know when and where particle pollution
levels may be unhealthy.
Particle pollution levels can be high any
time of year. Levels can be especially high
when the weather is calm, allowing air
pollution to build up. Particle levels can
also be high:
• Near busy roads, in urban areas (especially
during rush hour), and in industrial areas.
• When there is smoke in the air from wood
stoves, fireplaces, burning vegetation, or
forest fires.
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Plan activities when and where pollution
levels are lower.
« Avoid exercising near busy roads or
industrial areas.
• When particle levels outdoors are unhealthy,
delay your activity until the air is cleaner or
move your activity indoors.
Change your When the air is
polluted, take it a little easier. This will reduce
how much pollution you breathe. For example,
go for a walk instead of a jog.
Reduce your overall risk of heart
or stroke.
• Make lifestyle changes like eating healthy
foods, exercising more, and stopping
smoking.
« Work with your health care provider to
treat conditions that increase your risk of
heart disease and stroke.
the warning of heart attack and
below). If you feel symptoms,
even if they go away, stop your activity and
seek medical help immediately!
air
Sometimes you can tell that the air is polluted™
for example, on a smoggy or hazy day. But
often you can't see the pollution. In many areas,
you can find air quality forecasts and reports
on local TV, radio, or in the newspaper. These
reports use the Air Quality Index, or AQI, a
simple color scale, to tell you how clean or
polluted the air is. You can also find these
reports on the Internet at: www.airnow.gov.
You can sign up for email notification at
www.enviroflash.info. This free service will
alert you when your local air quality reaches
levels of concern and can help you plan your
daily activities.
0
Air quality and health:
• AIRNow at www.airnow.gov
• Call 1-800-490-9198 for a free EPA brochure on
Particle Pollution and Your Health.
Heart and stroke:
« American Heart Association at
www.americanheart.org
• American Stroke Association at
www.strokeassociation.org
« National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
at www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Know the warning signs of a heart
f Chest discomfort—uncomfortable pressure,
fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of
the chest that lasts more than a few minutes,
or goes away and comes back.
f Discomfort in other areas of the upper body—
pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the
back, neck, jaw or stomach.
f Shortness of breath—often comes with or
without chest discomfort
f Other signs—may include breaking out in a
cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.
ICnow the warning signs of stroke:
f Sudden numbness or weakness—in the face,
arm, or leg especially on one side of the
body.
f Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or
understanding.
f Sudden problems seeing in one eye or both eyes.
f Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination,
or trouble walking.
f Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Reprinted with permission
© 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency . EPA-452/F-10-001
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