Why a person has an infarction a day and not another day? Science has studied exhaustively the role played by risk factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol in cardiovascular disease. But, in the case of heart attacks, caused by a clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. What is the trigger that causes a day in particular the formation of a clot that plug the artery? Experts of https://www.vallhebron.com/ Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus and CIBER in your its area of Cardiovascular Diseases (CIBERCV)http://www.cibercv.es/noticias/video-institucional-mas-de-10-anos-de-investigacion-ciber carried out a study that shows that the days in which air pollution levels are higher in the metropolitan area of Barcelona more heart attacks occur. Therefore, in people who have risk factors, peaks of pollution could be the trigger that increases the likelihood of suffering a heart attack. The work has been published in the scientific journal https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29056239 International Journal of Cardiology. For their study, the experts used data from the Codi IAM records (Myocardial Infarction Code), which collects data from patients who suffer a heart attack in Catalonia. In particular, they included in the work data from patients who suffered a heart attack between January 2010 and December 2011. In addition, they crossed these data with meteorological records and air pollution data provided by "Servei Meteorològic" and the "Servei de Territori i Sostenibilitat de la Generalitat de Catalunya" during that same period of time.As explained by Jordi Bañeras, cardiologist of the Vall d'Hebron Hospital, researcher of the http://en.vhir.org/portal1/fitxa-personal.asp?id=52005 Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), and lead author of the study, "the results indicate that contamination causes an increase in myocardial infarction with ST-elevation, i.e. strokes with a total blockage of the coronary artery, which are the most serious. Also, infarctions of this type occurring in the days of more pollution have a higher mortality rate, especially in the first 24 hours after the event, and a higher rate of ventricular fibrillation, a lethal arrhythmia type." This expert also highlights that, until now, "very little studies had been carried out about the relationship between atmospheric pollution and the risk of an ST-elevation infarction, with mixed and controversial results. Also, this is the first study that shows that pollution is involved in mortality in the first 24 hours after a ST-elevation myocardial infarction and the first that relates the pollution with a higher incidence of ventricular fibrillation."The air pollution data included the extent of substances, among others, as PM 10 (substances under 10 microns in diameter), PM 2.5 (less than 2.5 microns in diameter), nitric oxide and lead. PM 2.5, emitted especially by exhaust pipes of cars with diesel engines is more directly linked to attacks. Therefore, says Dr. Bañeras, "environmental policies that favour pollution reduction would have a very positive impact on the health of the heart of the citizens. In the years 2010 and 1011, the average concentration of PM 2,5 in the most polluted areas of Barcelona was 20,1 ug/m3. Our study shows that if the PM 2.5 concentration, is reduced by 10 ug/m3 could be avoided at least a 7.67% of deaths occurring in the first 24 hours of STelevation myocardial infarction in Barcelona, which would mean a reduction of at least 5 deaths per year. - This figure is probably higher, since the study didn't take into account deaths by myocardial infarction before patients treated." Also, although the data included in the study correspond to the years 2010 - 2001, "pollution levels have not changed since then," adds Dr. Bañeras.Cardiology Service of Vall d'HebronThe Cardiology service treats diseases of the heart, such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, the familial heart diseases or arrhythmias. The Service mission is to mitigate the consequences of heart disease on quality of life and survival of the population. Service has all the super specialized structural units forming part of a Cardiology Service of a tertiaryuniversity hospital: Coronary, Arrhythmias, Cardiac Catheterization and Haemodynamics, Care, Conventional Hospitalization, Image, Heart Failure, Family Diseases, Valvular Heart Disease and Congenital Heart Disease Units.