Exposure to wildfires smoke have recently been discovered to cause heart diseases such as heart attacks and cardiac arrests, particularly in elderly people. According to the researchers, air pollution created by wildfires fuels the risk for heart hazards.

Based on the study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers found an association between pollution levels and heart hazards, Philly.com noted.

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Since fine particles are much more abundant in wildfire compared to traffic or industrial pollution, experts found that growing concentration of fine particulates in the air have increased the risk of cardiac arrest among men and people over age 65, Reuters Health has learned.

In addition, the risk for emergency visits due to coronary artery disease also rose, particularly among women.

"Where there's fire, there's smoke, and the pollutants in the smoke can potentially have an impact on health," Melbourne's Monash University lead researcher Anjali Haikerwal said.

While the epidemiological investigation on the role of fine particle matter in triggering acute coronary events, including out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and ischemic heart disease (IHD), during wildfires are inconclusive, researchers pointed out the tiny particles of air pollution from wildfires are likely the culprit.

Furthermore, these hazardous particles called PM 2.5 air pollution, which are normally invisible, are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, tinier than a speck of dust or a fraction of the width of a human hair.

"These fine particles are easily inhaled and go deep into the lungs and then trigger various heart problems that could cause heart attacks or cardiac arrest," Haikerwal said.

Fine particulate matter may be a common and hazardous type of air pollutant. Aside from burning wood, it also comes from burning coal, car exhaust and other sources. And with the rise in frequency and intensity of wildfires experienced globally in recent years, understanding the impact of wildfire smoke exposure on acute health effects in the community is very important, Heath Canal reported.

In spite of the fact that the study was only observational and did not establish cause and effect, the results may influence public health messaging in areas prone to wildfires such as Australia and the United States. And while respiratory risks are well-known, researchers said heart risks have been much harder to determine.

TagsSmoke Triggers Heart Attacks, wildfires, Smoke, heart attack, cardiac arrest, Study