People exposed to wildfire smoke have a higher risk of suffering a stroke, according to research published in the European Heart Journal today (Tuesday).
The researchers estimate that in the US alone, smoke from wildfires may be responsible for around 17,000 strokes each year.
The research was led by Professor Yang Liu from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, US.
Wildfires are becoming a major contributor to ambient air pollution. For example, in the Western US, wildfire smoke is now reversing decades of improvement in air quality.
Stroke is a major cause of disability and death around the world, and it is becoming more common. Traditional risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes do not fully explain this trend. We are interested in understanding how long-term…