SEMINAR: Environmental Cardiology

François Reeves, MD
Cardiologist and Associate professor of Medicine, Université de Montréal

Environmental Cardiology

Monday, 23 January 2017
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm – McIntyre Medical Building
3655 promenade Sir William Osler – Meakins – Rm 521

ALL ARE WELCOME
SYNOPSIS:
Starting about twenty years ago, we began to understand that the environment plays a significant role in cardiovascular disease and that the environment is highly changeable.
We now know that the Industrial Revolution unleashed dietary and airborne nano-aggressors to which our pre-anthropocentric ancestors were not exposed. The main food nano-aggressors –widely used in processed foods – are fructose-glucose syrup, excess salt and synthetic trans fats. They are major sources of cardiometabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia. The major airborne aggressors are the result of our massive and growing use of fossil fuels to produce energy; they include fine and ultrafine particulates, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide as well as toxins such as lead, composed of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
These nano-aggressors are toxic not only directly to our blood vessels, where they can lead to atherosclerosis, thrombosis and autonomic nervous system disorders, but they may also result in cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia and even obesity. When these food and airborne nano-aggressors converge, they mutually potentiate to create a ‟perfect cardiovascular storm.” First seen in the 1950s in North America during its Industrial Revolution, this storm is now enveloping the developing nations.

SEE ATTACHED PDF FOR MORE DETAILS