The conclusions are based on a review of test results from 287 patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (NOCAD) who had coronary angiography and a coronary provocation test at a hospital in Rome, which involves injecting medication to see if the coronary arteries are hyperresponsive.
New Delhi: According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, increased exposure to air pollutants can promote the narrowing of blood arteries in people who already have an underlying cardiac problem, exposing them to major health risks, including a heart attack (JACC).
According to the study, long-term exposure to PM2.5 or tiny particulate matter might cause an unexpected, transient constriction of the arteries, which can result in a heart attack.
The findings are based on an examination of test reports from 287 patients with NOCAD (defined as less than 50% diameter stenosis) who underwent coronary angiography followed by a coronary provocation test at a hospital in Rome in which a drug is injected to determine whether the coronary arteries are hyper-responsive.
The researchers discovered that 176 (61%) of NOCAD patients had a positive provocation test. The study also revealed that patients who had a positive provocation test were exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 and PM10 than patients who had a negative provocation test.
“Our review reveals an intriguing relationship between long-term air pollution and the occurrence of coronary vasomotor issues (narrowing or expansion of the heart’s veins), implying a potential role for poisons in determining myocardial ischemia (absence of blood flow to the heart muscles) in patients with NOCAD,” the JACC focus on says.
“Sudden rise in contaminations can prompt more passings in a short stretch,” said Dr. Mohit Gupta, a cardiology professor at G B Gasp clinic in Delhi. He stated that in cities like Delhi, where contamination is on the rise, individuals are at high risk of developing a coronary illness.
