Air pollution can cause a myriad of health concerns, particularly with regard to your heart wellness. This is why a new field of medicine called environmental cardiology has emerged, aiming to reduce the impact that air pollution has on your wellbeing. According to a recent panel of health and environmental experts, if you focus on eliminating other risk factors for heart disease, you can counteract the damaging effects of pollution on your heart, so let’s take a closer look at what you can do to beat air pollution:
1. Work on your work stress: If you work in a high-stress environment, you’re at a disproportionately high risk of cardiovascular problems and heart attacks. This is particularly true of women under the age of 51, according to a study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, as nurses in this age bracket who reported high levels of work pressure had a 40% increase in heart attack risk. Another study, this time found in the European Heart Journal, noted that working overtime increases your heart attack risk by 60%. Therefore, you need to find ways to reduce stress at work, and better deal with the stress that you can’t eliminate. This may mean delegating some of your responsibilities and finding a relaxing hobby or exercise to try.
2. Breastfeed your baby: Even though breastfeeding is well-known to be good for babies, it’s also beneficial to you. It is recommended that you breastfeed for a year, and a study published in Obstetrics and Gynaecology found that women who do so reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases by 10%. Other research has shown that breastfeeding for as long as 23 months can cause your heart attack risk to drop by as much as 23%, but even breastfeeding for a short period of time will do your heart good.
3. Don’t do the can-can: Canned food is high in salt, which is bad for your health anyway, but the can itself can also have a disastrous impact on your heart. Bisphenol A is a hormone-disrupting plastic used in the epoxy resins that prevent cans from rusting or making food taste metallic and it may cause heart disease in women. This is according to a study from the journal Environmental Research, which found that bisphenol A increases inflammation and oxidative stress in post-menopausal women, which can lead to a whole host of health concerns, including heart disease.
4. Manage your migraines: Not only are migraines irritating and painful; they also increase your risk of dying from cardiovascular problems. A British Medical Journal study has shown that if your migraines are accompanied by flashes of light, zigzagging patterns or other visual problems – known as migraine with aura – your risk of heart disease is raised by 27%. As such, it’s vital that you learn the triggers of your migraines, manage your stress more effectively and get plenty of exercise.
5. Get you to the Greek: A wealth of research extols the heart health-boosting benefits of the Mediterranean diet, especially for warding off cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. This is because the diet emphasises fruits, vegetables and health fats found in olive oil and nuts. The diet is light on red meat, a food which can increase your heart disease risk by up to 30%. Plus, it’s a meal plan that allows you to drink wine and has been shown to aid weight loss – what more could you ask for? For more information, visit the Oldways Food Alliance, a non-profit website devoted to preserving and promoting traditional diets.
