Delhi's polluted air may put young hearts at risk, doctors warn

Delhis polluted air may be posing a risk to the cardiovascular health of young adults with doctors warning that prolonged exposure to PM25 along with poor sleep stress and physical inactivity could add to existing hearthealth risksA recent study conducted by researchers from across disciplines at University of Delhis Hindu College and Zakir Hussain College found that the capitals average winter PM25 concentration was 26935 micrograms per cubic metre nearly seven times the national standard and about 18 times of the WHO guideline cited in the studyNearly 98 per cent of the PM25 readings recorded during the study period exceeded the national standard while levels crossed 700 micrograms per cubic metre in late December The winter average was more than five times the levels recorded during summer and monsoon the study findings published in the Frontiers in Sustainable Cities journal in March 2026 saidCardiovascular risk in younger adults cannot always be attributed to a single factor Prolonged exposure to air pollution inadequate or irregular sleep chronic stress and physical inactivity can compound conventional risk factors such as hypertension diabetes and high cholesterol said Dr Udgeath Dhir principal director Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Fortis GurugramFine particles can promote vascular inflammation oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction while poor sleep can disrupt blood pressure regulation and metabolic function potentially increasing cardiovascular vulnerability he saidThe University of Delhi study conducted between October 17 2023 and January 12 2024 used airquality measurements and healthrisk models to assess the potential impact of prolonged PM25 exposure among young adults It projected a 165fold increase in cardiopulmonary mortality risk under the prevailing annual exposure conditionsThe researchers however stressed that this was a model populationlevel estimate of longterm cardiovascular risks and did not mean that 165 times more young adults had developed heart disease or suffered heart attacks The study estimated the potential health burden associated with exposure rather than following participants to record cardiovascular eventsThe study found that PM25 exposure remained high beyond winters The annual mean concentration recorded at the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB North Campus monitoring station in 2023 was 9872 micrograms per cubic metrePM25 is particularly concerning because the microparticles can enter the circulatory system The study noted that exposure is associated with oxidative stress systemic inflammation and cellular damage which can contribute to cardiovascular as well as respiratory conditionsFor young adults such exposure can continue for years before conventional cardiovascular diseases becomes clinically visible The study noted that adolescents and young adults may be particularly vulnerable because of higher respiratory rates and ongoing physiological developmentDr Dhir said young people should be cautious regarding exercise or physical exhaustion particularly during periods of severe pollutionNot everybody is an athlete and not every person needs an athletes level of training to have a healthy heart Regular moderate and appropriately progressed exercise is highly beneficial but suddenly pushing an untrained body into longdistance running marathon training or highintensity workouts can place unnecessary and acute stress on the cardiovascular system he saidExercise should be prescribed according to an individuals age fitness medical history and conditioning not according to socialmedia fitness trends or another persons performance The heart needs time to adapt to increasing workloads Dhir saidThe study logged the highest shortterm exposure burden during winters The mean winterhazard quotient was calculated to 673 against the national reference concentration and 1796 against the WHO parameter both substantially above the safety threshold of oneThe researchers also found that 607 per cent of surveyed young adults reported worsening symptoms such as coughing sneezing shortness of breath or eye irritation during the highly polluted winter months while 103 per cent reported respiratory conditions such as bronchitis or asthmaThey cautioned that these were selfreported observations and should not be treated as evidence of a direct individual exposureresponse relationshipDr Dhir further said sleep health is increasingly relevant to cardiovascular risk particularly in younger adults Persistent snoring can sometimes be a marker of underlying disordered breathing during sleep and should not be ignoredHe said inadequate or irregular sleep could compound the effects of other cardiovascular risks Fine particulate matter can promote vascular inflammation oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction while chronic sleep deprivation can disrupt bloodpressure regulation and metabolic function These mechanisms may collectively increase cardiovascular vulnerability he saidHe advised young adults to get seven to nine hours of regular sleep remain physically active monitor blood pressure blood sugar and cholesterol and reduce exposure during severe pollution episodes Dhir also cautioned against suddenly undertaking strenuous workouts particularly when the body is not conditioned for themThe message is not to stop running or exercising it is to exercise intelligently Gradual progression adequate recovery and recognising warning symptoms such as chest discomfort unusual breathlessness dizziness fainting or palpitations are essential he addedWith World Heart Day being observed on September 29 doctors said cardiovascular health among young adults needs to be viewed beyond traditional risk factors with air pollution sleep stress and physical activity also forming part of the broader pictureThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability 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