المملكة: Heart consultant confirms the relationship of dust by increasing the risk of heart attacks

Consultant Heart Diseases, Dr. Khaled Al -Nimr, warned of the serious health effects of dust waves and dust storms, indicating that these climatic phenomena are not just visual or environmental inconvenience, but rather a direct threat to public health, especially for heart and respiratory health.

Respiratory problems of dust days

“Al -Nimr” explained that the emergency visits are doubled during dust days, especially between children and the elderly, due to the exacerbation of asthma and breathing difficulties.
He emphasized that three main organs in the body are most vulnerable to affected during these storms, namely: eye, respiratory system, and heart.
Al -Nimr added that the high concentration of fine particles known as “PM₁₀” during dust storms is related to a noticeable increase in the request for medical emergency services for heart conditions, explaining that “when the PM₁₀ concentration increases by 100 micrograms per cubic meter of air, heart emergency situations increase by 1.35%.”
He indicated that these fine particles penetrate the respiratory system and reach blood circulation, which leads to irritation of the blood vessels, and an increase in the risk of heart and brain clots, especially in those with chronic heart or lung diseases.

Wearing masks and following safety guidelines

He stressed the importance of wearing medicinal masks during dust waves, describing them as a “first line of defense” against these harmful particles, especially for heart and asthma patients, whose condition may be seriously aggravated as a result of inhalation of contaminated air with dust.
It was recommended to avoid leaving the house except for the utmost necessity, especially for chronic asthma patients and the elderly, indicating that dust increases the risk of acute asthma attacks, sinus infections, and upper respiratory infections.
In light of the escalation of dust storms in several regions of the Kingdom during the transition classes, these warnings come to remind the importance of simple preventive measures that can reduce health consequences that may be fatal sometimes.
He stressed that “heart health is not in isolation from the surrounding environment,” calling for the promotion of societal awareness of the seriousness of sudden climatic changes, and the need to prepare for it not only with an umbrella or glasses, but with a real protection of the lungs and heart.