September 28, 2023 – The risk of stroke increases by as much as 30% inside five days of exposure to air pollution, in accordance with a brand new study.
Researchers examined 110 observational studies from around the globe that determined when strokes occurred and what levels of common pollutants within the air occurred inside five days of a stroke.
The results of the meta-analysis were published within the journal neurology.
“The impact of air pollution on human health goes beyond the lungs and eyes. It also affects the brain and cardiovascular system,” said University of Jordan researcher Ahmad Tubasi, who led the research NBC News.
“The meta-analysis included more than 18 million cases of ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke caused by a blood clot traveling to the brain,” NBC reported.
“Researchers found that the risk of stroke was almost 30% higher when people were exposed to nitrogen dioxide up to five days beforehand. The risk was 26% higher with carbon monoxide exposure; for sulfur dioxide 15% higher; and 5% higher in ozone pollution.”
Additionally, short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide was related to a 33% higher risk of dying from a stroke. For sulfur dioxide the worth was 60% higher.
Inhaling high quality dust particles causes inflammation and irritation within the lungs. This causes your immune system to kick into gear and eventually affects the cardiovascular system, said Michael Kleinman of the Air Pollution Health Effects Laboratory on the University of California, Irvine, who was not involved within the research.
“There is a direct connection between what happens in the lungs and what happens in the heart,” he said.