Increased exposure to air pollution leads to an increased risk of heart arrhythmia, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The study, which included almost 200,000 people in China, found that the potential for an irregular heartbeat increased just hours after increased air pollution levels.
"The risks occurred during the first several hours after exposure and could persist for 24 hours," explained Renjie Chen, co-author of the study. "Although the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood, the association between air pollution and acute onset of arrhythmia that we observed is biologically plausible." Arrhythmia "can lead to severe cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and death," the study notes.
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