Myocardial Infarction: Exposure to Air Pollutants Can Lead to This Debilitating Condition – India.com

Are you living in an area where the air pollution level is too much? If yes, you may be at an increased risk of developing myocardial infarction which is also called a heart attack. A recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives has revealed that exposure to an elevated level of ultrafine particles (particles that are 100 nanometers or smaller in size) can make you susceptible to a heart attack.

Air pollutants have been found to cause inflammation in the body. Inflammation can further trigger blood clots and promote plaque formation in the blood vessels. This can block the supply of blood to the heart causing a myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction is generally characterized by symptoms including shortness of breath, sudden dizziness, nausea, squeezing or aching sensation in the chest, cold sweat, etc. The signs differ from person to person. Some may just feel mild pain, while others may go through severe chest pain.

This condition can also occur because of the build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries. Certain factors including old age, tobacco exposure, high blood cholesterol level, obesity, suffering from metabolic syndrome, lack of physical activity, stress, etc. can potentially increase your likelihood of suffering from a myocardial infarction. The damage can lead to complications like abnormal heart rhythms and sudden cardiac arrest.

The myocardial infarction can be diagnosed by tests like electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood tests. You may also have to go through a chest X-ray, exercise stress test, cardiac CT scan or MRI. During a heart attack, immediately providing certain medications can restore blood flow quickly and prevent heart damage. Additionally, to prevent a further heart attack, you may be suggested to go through coronary angioplasty and stenting or coronary artery bypass surgery. To improve your heart health, you basically need to avoid smoking, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and control stress.

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Myocardial Infarction: Exposure to Air Pollutants Can Lead to This Debilitating Condition - India.com