Ozone and particle pollution found in unhealthy air can be hard on the respiratory system. But the particle pollution also can affect your heart. Cardiologist explains why.
Particle pollution results from burning, says Manhas, who's with Baylor Scott and White Cottonwood Cardiology in Irving and Lake Ridge.
"I would really emphasize that solving this problem is very difficult to do on an individual basis. When you want to address something that's more societal and larger scale, we have to work together on that."
鈥淲hen we incinerate garbage, when we have industrial production that is burning various chemicals and compounds,鈥� he said, 鈥渋t can lead to these small particulate matters 鈥� things that are between 2 and 5 microns in the air, for various reasons.鈥�
The particles are mostly outdoors, but they also reach inside your home, filtered by your air conditioning system or just by being in a sealed environment.
鈥淭here鈥檚 more pollution outside than inside your home,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he amount of time you spend in each could determine how much you鈥檙e impacted by air pollution.鈥�
Manhas says suggests the amount of particle pollution you鈥檙e exposed may lead to coronary calcification 鈥� or a buildup of plaque in the arteries 鈥� and an increased risk of a coronary event.
Diet and exercise can have the strongest impact on taking care of your heart. But as for particle pollution, Manhas names other ways individuals can help themselves:
- Becoming more aware is the first step.
- If you walk or bike or have an electric car, that would reduce the amount of air pollution.
- Try to avoid running or walking during rush hour, when you鈥檙e directly exposed to the pollution of the traffic. Consider running in off-peak hours.
- Be aware of air quality reports and try to avoid exposure at that time.
However, Manhas adds: 鈥淚 would really emphasize that solving this problem is very difficult to do on an individual basis. When you want to address something that鈥檚 more societal and larger scale, we have to work together on that.鈥�
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