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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