Toxic air linked to heart attack risk: Study

In cities like Delhi that are already having chronic elevation of air pollution, it predisposes people at high risk to develop heart disease, said Dr Mohit Gupta, professor of cardiology at G B Pant hospital, Delhi

- DurgeshNandan.Jha timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Higher exposure to air pollutants can cause narrowing of blood vessels in those already having an underlying heart condition, thus exposing them to serious health risks, including a heart attack, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

The study says prolonged exposure to PM2.5 or fine particulate matter can lead to a sudden, temporary squeezing of the arteries which can lead to heart attack.