Air pollution, which includes both short-term and long-term exposure to airborne particles, has been shown time and time again to have a deleterious effect on blood pressure. A recent study suggests that certain populations may benefit from decreased blood pressure and improved cardiovascular health by using certain types of air purifiers, particularly those with HEPA air filters.
A small research report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology examined 154 individuals who resided near a highway and were subject to air pollution caused by it on a regular basis. This pollution came in the form of tailpipe emissions, as well as wear and tear on tires and brakes. They were all over 30 (average age was 41), and most came from middle-class or higher socioeconomic backgrounds. They had to be permanent residents of the home next to the roadway, free of cardiovascular disease, and not using any drugs to control their blood pressure or inflammation.
Dr. Karishma Patwa of Manhattan Cardiology says that the study’s main finding is that installing HEPA filters in the homes of people with high blood pressure who live near highways “resulted in a modest but significant reduction in systolic blood pressure,” the highest number that can be measured. Read the article
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