Previous studies have linked city pollution to ishcemic heart disease. The mechanism of which was not really studied well until recently. It has been shown that ambient air pollution is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Jogging as an exercise is perfect. It promotes well being and health. But the place where one jogs should be considered especially with the findings below published in New England Journal of Medicine in 2007, regarding the risk of cardiovascular disease and air pollution:
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“Brief exposure to dilute diesel exhaust promotes myocardial ischemia and inhibits endogenous fibrinolytic capacity in men with stable coronary heart disease. Our findings point to ischemic and thrombotic mechanisms that may explain in part the observation that exposure to combustion-derived air pollution is associated with adverse cardiovascular events.”
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The most likely mechanism of the above maybe genetics as explained in one study published also almost at the same time in Genome Biology, 2007.
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Diesel exhaust particles and oxidized phospholipids synergistically affect the expression profile of several gene modules that correspond to pathways relevant to vascular inflammatory processes such as atherosclerosis.
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I promote wellness through proper choices of food and physical activity. These studies point out that patients with pre existing risk factors for heart disease should avoid being in areas where exposure to air pollution is present. Exercising therefore in an area within the city where combustion particles are part of what you’ll inhale should be avoided.
I guess running a marathon in Boston area or any city for that matter can therefore have an impact on one’s risk and therefore should be reconsidered.
So running is good for the heart but for now avoid the city!
September 14, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Very valuable info Doc. I see a lot of elderly people doing their jogging in the morning at the fuente rotonda.
They need to be aware of the risk they are exposed to.
December 9, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Great article! This is something I haven’t given much thought. I will plan my running route a bit differently now and avoid rush hour traffic. Check your city’s air quality at http://www.homefacts.com/airquality.html
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