Climate Change Fuels Heart Attack Risk: Heat, Cold, Pollution a Deadly Mix

• Climate change, through extreme heat, cold, and pollution, is a growing public health emergency significantly increasing the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular stress.
• WHO reports and studies link rising temperatures and intensified air pollution to worsened cardiovascular disease outcomes and increased heart-related mortality.
• Heatwaves force the heart to pump harder, while cold constricts blood vessels, both increasing workload and blood pressure, and thickening blood.
• Elevated ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from climate change cause inflammation, blood vessel damage, and plaque instability, precipitating heart attacks.
• Vulnerable groups include the elderly, those with pre-existing heart conditions, outdoor workers, and urban residents; individual precautions and robust healthcare responses are crucial.

Why It Matters: Climate change's extreme weather and pollution are a major public health threat, drastically increasing heart attack risks.