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Air Pollution Linked to Increased Stroke Risk in the UK

New research just presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress reveals a worrying link between air pollution and an increased risk of stroke for millions of us in the country.

A decade-long study of nearly 300,000 people found that those living in the most polluted areas of the UK were 7% more likely to suffer a stroke compared to those in areas with cleaner air. The same study also found an increased risk of heart failure. The team assessed the air pollution exposure of more than 318,000 people living in the UK. This was based on air pollution monitoring carried out by separate researchers between January 2010 and 2011 within 100 square metres of the participants’ homes.

The participants, aged 40 to 69 at the start of the research, were taking part in the UK Biobank study. They had no history of a stroke or mini-stroke, defined as a temporary disruption to the brain’s blood supply, ischemic heart disease – cardiovascular complications caused by narrowing of the heart’s arteries, or cancer. This is a stark reminder that the air we breathe has a profound effect on our health, particularly our cardiovascular system. The fine particulate matter PM2.5 (which measures less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter,) comes from vehicle exhaust and other sources.  It can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation and blood vessel damage, increasing the risk of cardiovascular events.

Over an average 12-year follow-up period, 5967 of the participants had a stroke, 2985 developed cardiovascular disease and 1020 people died due to any cause. After accounting for other factors that can influence stroke risk, such as physical fitness levels, the researchers found that every 5 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3) increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that the participants were exposed to across a year was linked to a 24 per cent rise in their risk of a stroke.

The British Heart Foundation and other organisations are calling for stricter air quality targets; let’s work together for cleaner air and reduction in strokes!


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