Research shows an increase in air pollution significantly raises stroke risk

last updated 25 March 2015

Just breathing in air pollution for one day can increase a person's risk of stroke, researchers say.

By looking at 103 studies involving 6.2 million stroke hospitalizations and deaths in 28 countries, researchers found that every type of pollution except ozone was linked to an increased risk for strokes, and the higher the level of pollution, the more strokes occurred, The New York Times reports.

The data showed that daily increases in pollution from nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter corresponded with increases in strokes and hospital admissions. Researchers are not entirely sure why that is, although studies have previously shown that air pollution constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure and risk for blood clots. There's not much a person can do once air pollution increases, says lead author Dr. Anoop Shah of the University of Edinburgh. "If you're elderly or have co-morbid conditions, you should stay inside," he told The Times. The only real solution is to work on improving air quality. "It's a question of getting cities and countries to change," he said.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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