The New England Journal of Medicine informs us that road rage may trigger heart attacks. A study originating in the United States and done in southern Germany was based on interviews with approximately 700 heart attack sufferers. The researches came to a conclusion that sitting in traffic makes it three times more likely for you to suffer a cardiac infraction.
So, in addition to such risk factors as diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity and tobacco, there is another risk factor for a heart attack-road rage. Fumes from vehicle exhaust and the stress of driving are likely to increase the risk. Particulate matter, which is anything such as dust or dirt that is suspended in the air for long periods of time, has been blamed most of all.
Dr. Pearson, the associate medical director of the British Foundation, explains why the particulate pollution may cause the risk of heart attack: the particulates could penetrate the blood vessels and cause fatty deposits, called plaques, to burst. When this happens, plaque fragments would be swept into narrower vessels near heart. If they block the vessels completely, the subject suffers a heart attack.
Thus, particulate matter from diesel exhaust seems to be the villain of not only stunned lung development, asthma attacks, lung cancer and premature death, but of heart attacks, too.
Within the United States, the Clean Air Act provides the legislative foundation for the promulgation of regulations to control the quality of air. Section 109(a) of the CAA requires that the Environmental Protection Agency must establish uniform national standards at a level that is a requisite to protect public health from the adverse effects of pollutants in the ambient air.
Requisite means sufficient, but no more than necessary. Moreover, 19 percent of U.S. counties do not meet the existing standards. The vast majority of them are in California and midwest states. Living in rural areas is becoming a blessing rather than something we can take for granted.
Stress is likely a causative factor to trigger heart attacks. Having to get up early in the morning, anxiety, uncertainty, fear, distress and worry can be essential parts of it. But as the risk seems to be posed regardless of the mode of transportation; no matter whether you are in a car, motorcycle, bicycle or public transportation, stress is shown to play a leading role among the risk factors of heart diseases.
Cardiologists find it easier to deal with a blockage in an artery caused by particulates, which they can see. Yet stress and depression together can affect your immunity so that your organism finds it difficult to fight against negative factors of the environmental impact. Especially as if you are caught in traffic with air pollution and noise, it certainly does not make you feel better.
With the invention of external combustion engine, mankind entered a new era of high speeds and environmental pollution. Development of new technologies creates fear of becoming a victim of our own inventions. Heart attacks and insults (blooding in the brain) take 20 million lives a year. And roads take their toll in the diseases, too.
This does not necessarily mean that in order to prevent heart problems you should wear a respiratory mask or meditate while driving to relieve stress. You do not need to depart your dwelling two hours earlier than usual to avoid heavy traffic (although you can certainly do so).
The first thing that needs to be done is that EPA should strengthen clean air standards to protect public health with adequate margin of safety. The use of ecologically cleaner vehicles and improved city planning would not be the last things on the to-do list either.
Milana Karayanidi is a freshman in general business administration. She can be reached at [email protected].