The impact of environmental pollution and climate change on hypertension: a position paper by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Working Group on Environment in Hypertension - PubMed
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- #environmental pollution
- #hypertension
- #climate change
- Environmental pollution (air, noise, light) and climate change contribute significantly to global health burdens, causing over 9 million premature deaths annually.
- Air and noise pollution have strong epidemiological links to hypertension and cardiovascular disease, with emerging evidence for light pollution and toxic metal exposure.
- Hypertension is increasingly recognized as a marker of environmental damage, with PM2.5 and road traffic noise linked to higher hypertension prevalence and incidence.
- Recent guidelines by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) now include environmental risk factors in hypertension management.
- The paper discusses mechanistic pathways like oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, and neurohormonal dysregulation triggered by pollution.
- Mitigation strategies include legislative initiatives, urban planning, and personal exposure reduction techniques.
- The document emphasizes strict blood pressure control, enhanced screening in high-risk populations, and integrating environmental exposure monitoring into clinical practice.