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Outdoor Air Pollution, Heart Attack and Stroke
Citation:
Cascio, W. Outdoor Air Pollution, Heart Attack and Stroke. 2nd Annual EMS Symposium, Chapel Hill, NC, March 10, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
Impact statement: Elevated outdoor ambient air particle pollution triggers heart attacks, strokes, and abnormal heart rhythms and worsens heart failure in individuals at high risk due to underlying medical conditions. Emergency Medical Services in communities are the first responders to these emergent and urgent clinical conditions that account for more than 125,000 deaths air pollution related deaths in the U.S. each year. This presentation is one in a continuing series of talks to health care professionals that is intended to increase awareness of the causal association between air pollution and vascular events among individuals at risk - namely those with established heart and vascular disease, heart failure and/or rhythm disturbances. The concept of the EMS professional as a trusted source of medical information within the community, and specifically the opportunity for EMS to provide information about the AQI to those at risk and what they can do to lower exposure and risk of adverse events will be explored.
Description:
Elevated outdoor ambient air particle pollution triggers heart attacks, strokes, and abnormal heart rhythms and worsens heart failure in individuals at high risk due to underlying medical conditions. Emergency Medical Services in communities are the first responders to these emergent and urgent clinical conditions that account for more than 125,000 deaths air pollution related deaths in the U.S. each year. This presentation is one in a continuing series of talks to health care professionals that is intended to increase awareness of the causal association between air pollution and vascular events among individuals at risk - namely those with established heart and vascular disease, heart failure and/or rhythm disturbances. The concept of the EMS professional as a trusted source of medical information within the community, and specifically the opportunity for EMS to provide information about the AQI to those at risk and what they can do to lower exposure and risk of adverse events will be explored.