Fine dust – a silent killer threatening cardiovascular health.

Winter brings an increase in fine dust, especially PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This "invisible" dust triggers inflammation, increases the risk of blood clots, and poses a serious threat to cardiovascular health.

Why is fine dust dangerous?

As usual, with the arrival of winter, not only Hanoi but also many other provinces and cities record a significant increase in fine dust concentrations. The main reasons for this increase in fine dust during winter are polluting factors such as calm winds, low temperatures, and little rain. These factors reduce the air's ability to disperse, causing pollutants to accumulate in the lower atmosphere instead of rising or spreading to other areas. Consequently, the concentration of fine dust in the air increases, leading to high AQI (Air Quality Index) levels.

The environment contains various types of dust, such as total dust, PM10, PM2.5, PM1, and nano-dust. These are classified based on their size in micrometers. Among them, PM2.5 – also known as fine dust – is the most concerning. With a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometers, or only 1/30th the size of a human hair, this type of dust can easily penetrate deep into the lungs.

PM2.5 dust is likened to an "invisible killer" because of its small size, high content of toxic components, and the fact that when inhaled, it can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and bloodstream, causing many serious diseases such as myocardial infarction and cancer.

Understanding fine dust and proactively taking precautions is an effective way to protect your health.

Numerous scientific studies show that exposure to fine dust can cause health problems such as:

• Reduced life expectancy in people with heart and lung diseases.
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack).
• Heart rhythm disorders.
• Worsening respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, coughing, and shortness of breath.
• Impaired lung function.
• Increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

People with heart and lung diseases, diabetes, the elderly, and children are more vulnerable, especially when exercising outdoors. Physical activity leads to faster and deeper breathing, increasing the amount of fine dust particles entering the lungs.

Even healthy individuals can experience symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, chest tightness, excessive phlegm, and shortness of breath when exposed to high concentrations of fine particulate matter. People with lung conditions may experience shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and unusual fatigue during periods of pollution.

Mechanism by which fine dust attacks the cardiovascular system.

Causes oxidative imbalance and inflammatory responses.

PM2.5 can penetrate the respiratory tract into the alveolar epithelium, causing localized inflammation and creating an oxidative imbalance – a disparity between the amount of oxygen free radicals and the body's antioxidant capacity. This increases the release of inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and interferon-γ into the bloodstream. Once widespread in the circulatory system, these substances cause systemic inflammation and increase the strain on the cardiovascular system.

Increased risk of blood clots.

Circulating PM2.5 in the blood can activate platelets, increasing fibrinogen and tissue factor—important factors in the blood clotting process. Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk of acute thrombotic events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke.

Causes damage to vascular endothelial cells.

PM2.5 causes damage and promotes apoptosis (programmed cell death) of endothelial cells – a crucial pathogenesis in cardiovascular diseases.

What can we do to protect our health from fine dust?

People can use apps to monitor fine particulate matter pollution levels to adjust their daily activities accordingly.

Measures to mitigate the impact of fine dust include:

• Use an air purifier, turn on the air conditioner or fan to circulate the air, and use a range hood when cooking.
• Limit outdoor work and activities during periods of high pollution levels.
• Avoid activities that generate fine dust, such as smoking, burning trash, grilling food, burning candles or oil lamps, and using heaters.
• Increase participation in environmental protection activities.
• Boost your immune system with a balanced diet, supplementing with green vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins to help maintain the mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive tracts, support the fight against cell damage, and increase oxygen supply.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/bui-min-sat-thu-tham-lang-de-doa-tim-mach-169251204201205942.htm