Did you know that air pollution can 

trigger heart attacks, stroke, and

other health effects?

Medical studies show that air pollution can 

trigger heart attacks, stroke, and irregular 

heart rhythms—especially in people who are

already at risk for these conditions. Also, for

people with a medical condition called heart

failure, air pollution can further reduce the ability

of the heart to pump blood the way that it should.

Very small particles are the pollutants of

greatest concern for triggering these effects.

Particle pollution is found in haze, smoke, and

dust—and sometimes in air that looks clean.

This fact sheet tells you how you can:

• Get up-to-date information about your 

local air quality. 

• Protect your health when particle pollution is

at unhealthy levels. 

Are you at higher risk?

For most people, the risk is small. Older 

adults and people with risk factors for heart

disease or stroke may be at greater risk. You

are at greater risk if you:

• Have had a heart attack, angina, bypass 

surgery, angioplasty with or without a stent, a

stroke, blockages in the neck or leg arteries,

heart failure, heart rhythm problems, diabetes,

or chronic obstructive lung disease.

You may be at greater risk of heart disease 

or stroke (and therefore at greater risk from

particle pollution) if any of these apply:

• You are a man 45 years or older, or a woman 

55 years or older. 

• You have a family history of stroke or early

heart disease (father or brother diagnosed

before age 55; mother or sister diagnosed

before age 65).

• You have high blood pressure or high blood 

cholesterol.

• You are overweight or not physically active.

• You smoke cigarettes.

How can you protect your health?

Regular exercise is important for staying

healthy, especially if you have heart disease.

By adjusting when and where you exercise,

you can lead a healthier lifestyle and help

reduce your risk of heart problems or stroke

triggered by air pollution. In addition:

• If you have heart disease or have 

experienced a stroke, check with your 

health care provider about the best ways to

protect your health when the air quality is

unhealthy. 

• If you’re at risk of heart disease or stroke

and plan to exercise more than usual, 

discuss this with your health care provider. 

X Know when and where particle pollution 

levels may be unhealthy.

Particle pollution levels can be high any

time of year. Levels can be especially high

when the weather is calm, allowing air 

pollution to build up. Particle levels can 

also be high:

• Near busy roads, in urban areas (especially

during rush hour), and in industrial areas. 

• When there is smoke in the air from wood

stoves, fireplaces, burning vegetation, or

forest fires.

1

2

3

Heart Disease, Stroke, and Outdoor Air Pollution
X Plan activities when and where pollution

levels are lower.

• Avoid exercising near busy roads or 

industrial areas.

• When particle levels outdoors are unhealthy,

delay your activity until the air is cleaner or

move your activity indoors.

X Change your activity level. When the air is

polluted, take it a little easier. This will reduce

how much pollution you breathe. For example,

go for a walk instead of a jog. 

X Reduce your overall risk of heart disease 

or stroke.

• Make lifestyle changes like eating healthy

foods, exercising more, and stopping

smoking.

• Work with your health care provider to

treat conditions that increase your risk of

heart disease and stroke. 

XKnow the warning signs of heart attack and

stroke (see box below). If you feel symptoms,

even if they go away, stop your activity and

seek medical help immediately!

Get up-to-date information about

your local air quality

Sometimes you can tell that the air is polluted—

for example, on a smoggy or hazy day. But

often you can’t see the pollution. In many areas,

you can find air quality forecasts and reports

on local TV, radio, or in the newspaper. These

reports use the Air Quality Index, or AQI, a

simple color scale, to tell you how clean or 

polluted the air is. You can also find these

reports on the Internet at: www.airnow.gov. 

You can sign up for email notification at

www.enviroflash.info. This free service will

alert you when your local air quality reaches

levels of concern and can help you plan your

daily activities.

For more information:

Air quality and health:

• AIRNow at www.airnow.gov

• Call 1-800-490-9198 for a free EPA brochure on

Particle Pollution and Your Health. 

Heart disease and stroke:

• American Heart Association at

www.americanheart.org

• American Stroke Association at

www.strokeassociation.org

• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

at www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Know the warning signs of a heart attack:

 Chest discomfort—uncomfortable pressure,

fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of

the chest that lasts more than a few minutes,

or goes away and comes back.

 Discomfort in other areas of the upper body—

pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the

back, neck, jaw or stomach.

 Shortness of breath—often comes with or

without chest discomfort.

 Other signs—may include breaking out in a

cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.

Know the warning signs of stroke:

 Sudden numbness or weakness—in the face,

arm, or leg especially on one side of the

body.

 Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or 

understanding.

 Sudden problems seeing in one eye or both eyes.

 Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination,

or trouble walking.

 Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

4

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • EPA-452/F-10-001

5

Reprinted with permission

© 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.