People at risk from heart attacks have the odds increased against them if exposed to heavy traffic fumes according to a new study.
The British Heart Foundation’s associate medical director, Professor Jeremy Pearson, stated that the study – which he co-funded – gave conclusive results proving that inhaling large levels of vehicle exhaust fumes increases heart attack risk for about 6 hours after exposure, gradually reducing as more time elapses.
The British Medical Journal says attacks are probably hastened rather than directly caused by breathing in polluted air.
It is already acknowledged that pollution can majorly affect heart health, probably because it can cause ‘thickening’ of the blood and makes clotting a stronger possibility, thus raising the risk of heart attacks.
For this reason anyone with a diagnosis of heart disease should avoid spending time where they are exposed to high amounts of vehicle pollution, such as hectic roadways.
The medical records for nearly 80,000 patients who had experienced a heart attack, were cross referenced with data on air pollution to ascertain the results of the research.
This enabled air pollution to be plotted at hourly intervals to check if there were any links with the signs of potential heart attacks.
It was proven that risk of heart attack was elevated for up to six hours following exposure and then reduced following this time frame.
Ultimately the study proved that heightened air pollution exposure was a health hazard.
While there are many other factors which figure in the onset of a heart attack, vehicle fumes are said to be one of the elements that can tip you over the limit.