Chennai: Environment pollution and lifestyle modification play crucial roles in health and a recent report published in a British journal stresses on the burden of air pollution on public health.

The report says that physicians and professionals in public health should be aware that the air pollution experienced in most urban and industrial areas can aggravate cardiovascular health and lead to hospitalisation and death.

The findings show that there’s overall evidence that shows a positive association between short-term increases in fine particles and the risk of hospitalisation and death for congestive heart failure.

The effect is more evident in patients with pre-existing chronic heart congestion, hypertension, and arrhythmia, says the report.

City doctors say that people are more exposed to environmental pollution. “There are more stu-dies on air pollution and its effects on people. These days, we are seeing many young patients with heart problems,” in¬f¬orms a senior doctor at a government hospital.

The doctor adds that burning of garbage is a serious threat to our health. “We will see the effects of such pollution only gradually,” the doctor added.

Dr Govini Balasubr¬amani, consultant heart and cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, Global Health City, says that 20 per cent of the coronary artery disease patients he sees are less than 30 years.

“When exposed to carbon monoxide, it affects the lungs first. If one is exposed in traffic for two hours continuously, it equals smoking 20 cigarettes per day,” he says, adding people should understand and switch to public transport, if possible.

“More saplings should be planted and awareness should be created on reducing air pollution,” he said.

The report finds that air pollution has a close temporal association with he¬art failure hospitalisation and heart failure mortality. But concludes that more studies from dev¬eloping nations are required.