Pollution is silently killing India’s heart. New warnings from Apollo Hospital top heart surgeons reveal that deadly PM2.5 particles in polluted air can enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart attacks, high blood pressure, and cardiac arrest
Pollution Linked to Rising Heart Attack Cases
A senior cardiac surgeon at Apollo Hospitals has warned that PM2.5 fine particles from polluted air can enter the bloodstream, trigger arterial inflammation and sharply raise the risk of heart attacks — a concern that extends far beyond lung disease as Delhi-NCR’s AQI worsens. The surgeon, Dr Niranjan Hiremath, told Hindustan Times that these microscopic particles provoke inflammation, promote blood clots and increase cardiovascular strain, especially in people with high blood pressure or existing artery disease.
The health effects are not limited to the heart. Neurologists note mounting evidence that prolonged exposure to toxic air contributes to neuroinflammation, cognitive decline and may accelerate neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Dr Biplab Das highlighted that sustained inflammation in the brain can weaken neural connections and impair memory and concentration. These risks are particularly acute for children, whose developing brains are more vulnerable to long-term damage.
Mental-health clinicians say air pollution can also worsen mood disorders. Dr Shilpi Saraswat warned that chronic exposure to poor air quality is linked to higher rates of depression, suicidal thoughts and reduced quality of life, with young people and those exposed over several years showing the greatest effects. Together, cardiology, neurology and psychiatry experts describe air pollution as a multi-system public-health threat that requires urgent policy response.
