Polluted air triggers the appearance of specific substances in the blood that warn in advance of heart risks, the portal Earth.com writes, according to infohub.kz.
Scientists have long known that polluted air negatively affects people's well-being, but now researchers have managed to capture this process at the chemical level. It turns out that inhaling microscopic dust particles, gases, and exhaust fumes causes imperceptible changes in the circulatory system. In response to toxic substances, the body launches a defensive reaction, releasing special connective markers.
These chemical traces indicate the development of hidden inflammatory processes and increased stress on blood vessels. Over time, such changes can lead to disruptions in the cardiovascular system, raising the risk of dangerous diseases. Dirty air poses a particular danger to residents of large megacities and industrial areas who breathe toxic smog every day.
The main value of the discovery lies in the possibility of early diagnosis. Detecting specific markers in the blood will allow doctors to identify at-risk patients long before the first symptoms appear. This will help prescribe prevention in time and prevent the development of severe heart pathologies in people living in environmentally unfavorable conditions.