The surprising heart disease risk you're breathing in

This Week's Tip The surprising heart disease risk you're breathing in You probably know that smog is linked with respiratory problems and lung disease, but did you also know that breathing smoggy air can cause hardening of the arteries over the long term? A February 2005 study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that the longer healthy men and women in Los Angeles were exposed to air polluted with fine particulate matter, the thicker their carotid arteries became. The carotid artery carries blood from the heart to the head and neck, and a thickening of the arterial walls over time is a major risk factor for fatal heart attacks and strokes. More recent studies have confirmed smog's link to heart problems, including recent studies published in American Journal of Epidemiology and Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Tips to help: Stay indoors as much as you can on days when outdoor pollution levels are high. If you have to be outside, limit outdoor activity to the early morning hours or after sunset. Don't exercise outdoors when air-quality reports are low. Get Fit Without Leaving the House » More Tips for Heart Health » Heart Friendly Recipe Cocoa Crusted Pork Tenderloin This dish inspired by Costa Rican spices seems exotic, but it uses spices and ingredients you already have around the house: coffee, cocoa and cinnamon. You'll wonder why you've been relegating these flavorings to dessert! Get the Recipe See More Healthy Heart Recipes » Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 4  Amount Per Serving  Calories: 264.0 Total Fat: 13.1 g Cholesterol: 89.6 mg Sodium: 66.2 mg Total Carbs: 1.2 g   Dietary Fiber: 3.4 g Protein: 33.7 g View full nutritional breakdown of Cocoa Crusted Pork Tenderloin by ingredient Join the movement by clicking the link below to earn your SparkPoints, or connecting with SparkPeople in one of these other ways: UNSUBSCRIBE © 2017 SparkPeople, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms | Privacy | Manage Emails