The air we breathe affects our heart, it's time to act now

Increasing cases of coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attacks, strokes and even blood clots in the legs have surfaced over the years.

- (As told to Anupam Srivastava)

Given the global focus on how environmental factors impact various facets of life, it would not be out of place to mention that pollution, particularly air pollution, is one of the most underappreciated risk factors in heart ailments.

Many people are still unaware that the air we breathe directly affects our heart. Tiny particles suspended in polluted air—what we call particulate matter or PM—can go deep into lungs and even enter our bloodstream. Once inside, these particles can wreak havoc by damaging blood vessels, inflaming tissues and contributing to a cascade of harmful effects on the heart, lungs and vascular system.

Globally, more than 3.5 million people die each year from heart disease. Shockingly, around 31% of these deaths happen in India alone. Nearly one-third of first-time heart attacks occur in people under 45, according to data from a global study by the World Heart Federation. In fact, about 45% of all heart-related deaths happen in individuals aged 40 to 69, what we consider the most productive years of life, data from the same study showed.