S-/EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
AMERICAN
COLLEGE of
CARDIOLOGY
American
Heart
Association
American
Stroke
Association «
life is why-
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?
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.
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. 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 activity level. When the air is
polluted, it a This will
how much pollution you breathe. For example,
go for a walk instead of a jog.
^ Reduce your overall risk of heart disease 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.
^ Know the of
stroke (see box below). If you feel symptoms,
even if they go awTay, stop your activity and
seek medical help immediately!
information your
air
So.metim.es 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, a simple color scale, to tell you how
dean or polluted the air is. You can also find
these reports on the Internet at: airnow.gov.
Sign up for air quality emails or get the
AirNow app at airnow.gov. These free services
will alert you when your local air quality
reaches levels of concern and can help you
plan your daily activities.
For
Air quality and health:
• Air quality forecasts at airnow.gov
• Healthy Heart at bit.ly/epahealthyheart
Heart disease and stroke:
• American Heart Association at
w ww.heart.org
• American Stroke Association at
www.strokeassociation.org
« Center for Disease Control and
Prevention at:
w ww.cdc.gov/heartdisease/
Know the warning
of a
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.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
— pain or discomfort in one or both arms,
the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath — often comes with or
without chest discomfort.
Other signs — may include breaking out in
a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.
Use FAST to remember the warning
of a
FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does
one side of the face droop?
ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms.
Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a
simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or
strange?
TIME: If you observe any of these signs,
call 9-1-1 immediately.
Reprinted with permission
© 2015 American Heart Association,Inc.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency» EPA-456/F-16-004
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