City Living Leads to High Blood Pressure

A recent study reveals that those living in densely populated areas that have a lot of air pollution are at a higher risk of having high blood pressure than those living in rural areas. The study has been presented at the National Thoracic Society annual international meeting in New Orleans that wraps us this week.

German researchers from the University of Dusiburg-Essen used information from the ongoing Heinz Nixdorg Recall Study as a basis for their research. The study is population-based, focusing on the rate of people developing heart disease. They evaluated blood pressure readings in 4,352 individuals from 2000 to 2003. They found that those living in large cities had higher blood pressure readings regardless of weight, gender and smoking habits. The rate of the increase on a person’s blood pressure averaged out to be 1.7 mmHg for every 2.4 µg/m³ increase in fine articulate matter found in air pollution. While noise pollution does play a factor in high blood pressure it is not the only part of city living that is detrimental to a person’s health.

The particulates in air pollution have been known to cause daily blood pressure fluctuations, but this study shows long term exposure to heavy pollution has a long term, life-threatening effect. Chronic high blood pressure can lead to a number of deadly situations including heart attack and stroke. The high rate of air particulates in the atmosphere increases the risk of a condition known as atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries. Scientists plan on studying air pollution effects further to determine its association with heart disease.