Heart disease

AQI for people with heart disease

If you have heart disease, particle exposure can cause serious problems, even heart attacks.

People with heart diseases, such as congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease, are more likely to visit emergency rooms, be admitted to hospitals, or in some cases, even die.

When exposed to particle pollution, people with heart disease may experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Particle pollution has also been associated with cardiac arrhythmias and heart attacks. If you have any of these symptoms, follow your doctor's advice.

People with cardiovascular disease, such as angina, are most at risk from carbon monoxide. This is because carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream through the lungs and binds to haemoglobin, the substance in blood that carries oxygen to cells.

Carbon monoxide actually reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body's organs and tissues. You may experience chest pain and other cardiovascular symptoms if exposed to carbon monoxide, particularly while exercising.

You can reduce your risk and protect yourself by using the air quality index (AQI) chart to help you plan outdoor activities.

A person's relative risk due to air pollution is small compared with the impact of established cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, or high blood pressure. However, particle pollution is a serious public health problem because large numbers of people may be exposed over an entire lifetime.

AQI for people with heart disease

AQI for people with heart disease	CARBON MONOXIDE	PARTICLES
VERY GOOD 0-33	Ideal conditions for outdoor activities	Ideal conditions to enjoy outdoor activities
GOOD 34-66	Ideal conditions for outdoor activities	Ideal conditions to enjoy outdoor activities
FAIR 67-99	No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range.	Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.
POOR 100-149	People with heart disease, such as angina, should reduce heavy exertion and avoid sources such as heavy traffic.	Reduce exercising outdoors. If there are symptoms of asthama, wheeze, shortness of breath or cough, you should rest and use your reliever medicine. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice.
VERY POOR 150-200	People with heart disease, such as angina, should reduce heavy exertion and avoid sources such as heavy traffic. If you have symptoms rest and use your reliever medicine. If synptoms persist, seek medical advice.	Should avoid exercising outdoors. If there are symptoms of asthama, wheeze, shortness of breath or cough, rest and use your reliever medicine. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice.
HAZARDOUS 200+	People with heart disease, such as angina, should avoid exertion and sources such as heavy traffic.	Avoid outdoor exertion and stay inside as much as possible.If there are symptoms of asthama, wheeze, shortness of breath or cough, rest and use reliever medicine. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice.

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More information and resources about heart disease and how to reduce your risk from other factors: The Heart Foundation

This web page is managed and authorised by Environmental Health of Centre for Health Protection of the NSW Department of Health. Last updated: 31 March, 2009

Heart disease

AQI for people with heart disease

AQI for people with heart disease

CARBON MONOXIDE

PARTICLES

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