A new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) has found that exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat.
The study examined hourly exposure to air pollution and the sudden onset of arrhythmia symptoms using data from 2,025 hospitals in 322 Chinese cities.
Air pollution in China exceeds the World Health Organization’s guidelines for air quality, and the study used pollutant concentrations from monitoring stations closest to the reporting hospitals.
The study included 190,115 patients with acute onset of symptomatic arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, premature beats, and supraventricular tachycardia.
Air Pollution Exposure and Increased Risk
The study found that acute exposure to ambient air pollution increased the risk of symptomatic arrhythmia during the first several hours after exposure, with the risk persisting for up to 24 hours.
The exposure-response relationships between six pollutants and four subtypes of arrhythmias were approximately linear without discernable thresholds of concentrations.
The study found that exposure to ambient air pollution was most strongly associated with atrial flutter and supraventricular tachycardia, followed by atrial fibrillation and premature beats.
Among the six pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) had the strongest association with all four types of arrhythmias, and the greater the exposure, the stronger the association.
Biologically Plausible Association
The authors of the study noted that the association between air pollution and acute onset of arrhythmia is biologically plausible, although the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood.
Air pollution is known to alter cardiac electrophysiological activities by inducing oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, affecting multiple membrane channels, and impairing autonomic nervous function.
The authors of the study called for further reduction of exposure to air pollution and prompt protection of susceptible populations worldwide.
They emphasized that the association was immediate and underscores the need to protect at-risk people during heavy air pollution.
This study adds to the growing evidence of the adverse cardiovascular effects of air pollution.
The study highlights the importance of further reducing exposure to air pollution and the prompt protection of susceptible populations worldwide.
Given the known health risks of air pollution, it is imperative that individuals, businesses, and governments take steps to reduce air pollution levels to safeguard public health.
How to prevent irregular heartbeat
Preventing an irregular heartbeat can involve various lifestyle modifications and medical treatments. Here are some ways to reduce the risk of developing arrhythmia:
Manage underlying health conditions: Certain medical conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease increase the risk of developing arrhythmia.
Therefore, managing these conditions through proper medication and lifestyle changes can help prevent the onset of irregular heartbeat.
Quit smoking: Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, and quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of developing arrhythmia and other heart problems.
Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing several health conditions that contribute to arrhythmia.
Maintaining a healthy weight through proper diet and regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat.
Exercise regularly: Regular exercise helps improve heart health, reduces the risk of developing hypertension, and can also help reduce stress and anxiety that contribute to arrhythmia.
Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine: Both alcohol and caffeine can trigger arrhythmia in some people. Therefore, limiting their intake or avoiding them altogether can help reduce the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat.
Manage stress and anxiety: Stress and anxiety can trigger arrhythmia in some people. Therefore, managing stress through techniques like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises can help prevent the onset of an irregular heartbeat.
Get enough sleep: Sleep deprivation can increase the risk of developing arrhythmia. Therefore, it is important to get enough restful sleep to maintain heart health.
Take medications as prescribed: In some cases, medications are necessary to manage underlying health conditions that contribute to arrhythmia. It is important to take these medications as prescribed to prevent the onset of irregular heartbeat.
Medical procedures: In some cases, medical procedures like cardiac ablation or implantation of a pacemaker may be necessary to treat arrhythmia. These procedures can help regulate the heart’s rhythm and reduce the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and scientists find new way to heal heart muscle.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer, and results showing how COVID-19 damages the heart.
The study was published in CMAJ.
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