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When we think about cardiovascular risk, factors such as cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, or diabetes usually come to mind. However, there is growing scientific evidence showing that the environment in which we live also has a direct impact on cardiovascular health. Air pollution, noise, extreme temperatures linked to climate change, chemical pollution, and even excessive artificial light at night can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

Recently, the European Society of Cardiology published a consensus document, in which researchers from different countries participated. The objective was to summarize the available scientific evidence on these environmental factors and their relationship with cardiovascular diseases, as well as the individual and collective actions that may help protect cardiovascular health.

Air pollution is the best-known environmental factor. Fine particles generated by traffic, industry, or the combustion of fossil fuels can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This promotes inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, and damage to blood vessels that accelerate atherosclerosis and increase cardiovascular risk. We now know that even pollution levels below current legal limits may still have harmful effects on health.

Climate change also represents a growing threat. Heat waves, wildfires, and extreme weather events increase stress on the cardiovascular system. As environmental temperatures rise, so does the risk of cardiovascular mortality. Children, older adults, patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, and socially vulnerable populations are particularly sensitive to these effects.

Other less visible factors also play an important role. Traffic noise disrupts sleep and activates hormonal mechanisms related to stress and hypertension. Artificial light at night disrupts circadian rhythms, which are essential for proper metabolic and cardiovascular function. In addition, long-term exposure to chemical substances present in water, soil, or everyday products may also contribute to cardiovascular risk over time.

This new knowledge forces us to understand cardiovascular health in a broader way. It depends not only on our individual habits and genetics, but also on the characteristics of the cities we live in, environmental policies, and the quality of urban environments.

For this reason, reducing polluting emissions, promoting sustainable transport, increasing green spaces, and designing healthier cities are not only environmental issues: they are also key strategies for cardiovascular prevention.