Air pollution causing heart diseases

Air pollution is one of the five leading causes of death worldwide. An eminent cardiologist associated with the Harvard Medical School presents terrifying statistics on worldwide deaths linked to air pollution. Air pollution-linked illness was found to be seven crores globally, and 70 lakh people lost their lives, according to the WHO. Out of these deaths, about 24 lakh deaths were associated with Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), and 13 lakh deaths were due to heart strokes, that is, a total of 37 lakh deaths from heart-ailments. One out of every five air pollution-related deaths was linked to cardiovascular manifestations globally. This number is even more alarming for India – one in three deaths linked to air pollution induced heart diseases. For the USA, it is roughly one in 20 deaths. At the same time, 15 lakh deaths were linked to respiratory illness, 13 lakh deaths to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and 5 lakh deaths were found associated with lung cancer. Air pollution is a severe challenge. Without the combined efforts of governments and citizens, we can not win the war against air pollution.