‘Air Pollution Hardens Arteries,’ Says Cardiologist; Explains Link to Heart Attack Risk

‘Air Pollution Hardens Arteries,’ Says Cardiologist; Explains Link to Heart Attack Risk (Credits: iStock)

In a recent post on Instagram, Dr. Dmitry Yaranov, cardiologist, mentioned that there is one thing that is affecting the heart and no one is really talking about it. “After treating thousands of patients with heart failure, these are the things I wish more people knew before it was too late,” he mentioned in the reel.

As the video proceeded, he mentioned and highlighted the factors that affect heart health and how most of them are often overlooked. These include air pollution exposure, stress and cortisol levels, chronic sleep deprivation, gum disease, poor gut health and limited access to healthy food. He also mentioned that cardiovascular well-being always goes beyond just exercise and diet and is an all-encompassing universe. One also needs to take care of their sleep cycle, stress levels, environmental factors and overall lifestyle.

In the video, Dr. Dmitry also mentioned that cardiovascular health doesn’t translate to just salads and exercises. It is everything, aka, sleep, air, stress, access and even the gut. “Fix the foundation, not just the numbers,” he mentions. Here are 6 things that are actually affecting your heart, according to cardiologist, Dr. Dmitry Yaranov.

Chronic sleep deprivation

Just clocking in 6 hours of sleep a night and calling it ‘the grind’ is not the way to go. Chronic sleep loss increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and sudden death.

Air pollution levels

Dr. Dmitry says, “Breathing in exhaust every day on your commute? Air pollution literally hardens your arteries.”

Gum disease

The cardiologist also mentions that if you haven’t seen a dentist in decades, you should do it asap because gum disease means more inflammation and this increases the risk of heart attack.

Stress and cortisol levels

If they are high and you are still pushing through with a brave face, it might be a red flag for your heart. Cortisol overload leads to an increase in blood pressure levels and inflammation.

Poor gut health

At this point, you cannot afford to ignore your gut health. Your microbiome helps in regulating blood pressure and cholesterol, so you need to feed it right.

Limited access to healthy food

Dr Yaranov says, “Trying to eat healthy but live in a food desert? Lack of access equals worse cardiac outcomes, no matter your willpower.”