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. 2018 Feb:1:198-205.
doi: 10.1016/j.cophys.2017.11.005. Epub 2017 Dec 13.

Cardiac pathophysiology in response to environmental stress: a current review

Vineeta Tanwar  1   2 , Aashish Katapadi  3 , Jeremy M Adelstein  1 , Jacob A Grimmer  1 , Loren E Wold  1   2   4
Affiliations

Cardiac pathophysiology in response to environmental stress: a current review

Vineeta Tanwar et al. Curr Opin Physiol. 2018 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: Environmental stressors are disturbing our ecosystem at an accelerating rate. An increasingly relevant stressor are air pollutants, whose levels are increasing worldwide with threats to human health. These air pollutants are associated with increased mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular diseases. In this review we discuss environmental stressors focusing mainly on the various types of air pollutants, their short-term and long-term cardiovascular effects, and providing the epidemiological evidence associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Direct and indirect pathophysiological mechanisms are also linked with cardiovascular complications such as thrombosis, fibrinolysis, hypertension, ischemic heart diseases and arrhythmias.

Results: Evidence to date suggests that humans are constantly being exposed to unhealthy levels of environmental toxicants with the potential of serious health conditions. Environmental stressors adversely affect the cardiovascular system and pose an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases for those who reside in highly polluted areas.

Conclusion: People with existing risk factors and those with established cardiovascular disease have increased susceptibility to environmental stressors. The literature reviewed in this article thus support public health policies aimed at reducing pollutant exposure to benefit public health.

Keywords: Particulate matter; cardiovascular mortality; environmental stress; heart; inflammation; oxidative stress.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Direct and indirect mechanisms of PM cardiovascular (CV) dysfunction
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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