Can haze cause cardiac arrhythmias?

  Haze, see haze again.  When it comes to haze, I’m sure you’re no stranger to it. Haze is a terrible “health killer”. So, our concern is: will hazy days increase the incidence of arrhythmias? The answer is yes, haze is an independent risk factor for the onset of atrial fibrillation, especially in patients with existing underlying heart disease, and exposure to haze for 2 hours is the time when atrial fibrillation is most likely to occur.  Does this weather have any effect on patients with coronary artery disease? Haze can increase the morbidity and mortality of coronary heart disease. PM2.5 particles in the haze can be loaded with a large number of harmful gases, heavy metals and other substances, and these harmful substances enter the blood through the respiratory tract and dissolve in the blood, which can lead to coronary vascular endothelial damage, resulting in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the blood vessels and even plaque rupture, resulting in acute coronary blockage, a serious clinical coronary heart disease –myocardial infarction. On the other hand, the cold air can also induce vasospasm, which leads to acute aggravation of vascular stenosis and more serious symptoms in patients who already have coronary artery disease. The haze reduces the parasympathetic tone in patients with coronary artery disease, thus increasing the risk of sudden cardiac death.  How can we protect ourselves in the face of the haze that constantly attacks our living environment? First of all, I think the most important and basic thing is to keep a relaxed mood, get enough sleep and eat more vegetables and fruits, which can make us have a strong immune system and reduce the occurrence of diseases. Secondly, try to stay indoors on hazy days, and wear a mask when you need to go out. There is no evaluation of the effect of wearing which type of mask to maximize the PM2.5 “out of the mouth”. Wearing the nationally approved N95, KN95, KN90 level dust masks can be more effective in reducing PM2.5 inhalation. Changing clothes and washing exposed face and hands after going out can reduce the pollution of indoor environment. In addition, planting some indoor plants such as: hanging orchids, aloe vera, greenery, bamboo, greenery and other green plants can effectively absorb indoor harmful gases and adsorb PM2.5, thereby improving indoor air quality.