We tend to associate breathing polluted air with respiratory distress, but new research suggests that airborne pollutants may be putting your heart at risk, too. Exposure to polluted air, even for a few days, may significantly raise your risk of suffering a heart attack, according to a study published in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Researchers found that short-term exposure (up to seven days) to most major air pollutants is associated with an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke. The study didnt point to a direct cause-and-effect relationship between pollution and cardiac risks, but did suggest that air pollution exposure poses a legitimate public health threat when it comes to cardiovascular risks.
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