[The effects of environmental stressors on cardiovascular health]

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for the premature deaths of more than 38 million people each year, making them the leading cause of the global burden of disease, accounting for 70% of global mortality. The majority of these deaths are caused by cardiovascular diseases. The risk of NCDs is closely related to exposure to environmental stressors such as air pollution, noise pollution, artificial light at night, and climate change, including extreme heat, sandstorms, and wildfires. In addition to the traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, hypercholesterolemia and genetic predisposition, there is increasing evidence that physicochemical factors in the environment significantly contribute to the high NCD numbers. In addition, urbanization is related to the accumulation and intensification of these stressors. This expert review will summarize the epidemiology and pathophysiology of environmental stressors with a focus on cardiovascular NCDs. In addition, solutions and measures to mitigate the effects of environmental risks, especially concerning cardiovascular diseases, will be discussed.