Living close to the major arteries is prone to atherosclerosis

According to German researchers, living near major roads is more likely to develop atherosclerosis. Dr. Barbara Hoffmann and colleagues at Essen University Hospital followed 4,494 German residents living in three major cities of the Ruhr River.

The researchers measured the level of pollution that each volunteer had exposed. In parallel, they used scanners to measure coronary artery calcification, the risk factor for atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

As a result, people living near the road axis have the highest degree of coronary artery calcification. According to the calculations of the researchers, people living near the main road with a distance of less than 50m have a 63% higher risk of coronary artery calcification. With a distance of 51 to 100m, this risk increased by 34%, and from 101 to 200m, this risk was 8%.

Although exposure to polluted air can cause atherosclerosis risk similar to passive cigarette poisoning, the researchers say, the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease remain high blood pressure. pressure, diabetes and inactivity.

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