Air Pollution Stroke Risk Found for Some People

New York, NY: A new study indicates that while rising air pollution may not increase the short-term risk of stroke for the majority of people, it could have serious consequences for those at high risk of stroke.

According to Reuters, researchers examined 9,200 patients who had been hospitalized for stroke and were unable to find any true association between the risk of stroke and exposure to short-term air pollution increases.

However, the researchers did find an association between air pollution and people with diabetes, who are at a higher risk of stroke. In fact, the study showed that on a polluted day, those with diabetes were about 11 percent more likely to have a stroke than on a relatively "clean" day.

"Those with stroke risk factors, like diabetes, may be at increased risk (from air pollution), but clearly more studies are needed," Dr. Gregory A. Wellenius of Brown University, a researcher in the study, told the news source.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a person suffers a stroke when the blood supply to part of the brain is significantly reduced or interrupted.