(NaturalHealth365) The World Health Organization calls air pollution a global issue that has the potential to lead to health problems like stroke, lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory infection. And according to the air quality database, recently updated in 2018, over 80% of individuals living in urban areas breath in air that doesn’t meet the air quality guidelines of the World Health Organization.

Recently, air pollution has been linked to another serious disease – diabetes.

Diabetes occurs when your body has a reduced ability to produce insulin, resulting in high blood sugar. While it can be treated, it’s often ignored and complications can lead to heart disease, stroke, and even kidney failure.  In a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health, researchers discovered a link between diabetes and air pollution.

Stunning: Researchers estimate air pollution contributed to 3.2 million diabetes cases worldwide

The study looked at a group of veterans in the United States who had no history of diabetes, analyzing how pollution affected them over several years. In the end, the data collected led them to estimate that air pollution contributed to about 3.2 million diabetes cases worldwide in 2016 alone. Poor air quality was also determined to be responsible for the loss of 8.2 million years of healthy life due to diabetes.

Researchers went on to note that not only was there a significant link between poor air quality and diabetes on a global scale, but there’s also an increased risk for diabetes, even when air pollution is at levels currently thought safe by the Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization. Industry lobbying groups often argue that the current air pollution levels are overly stringent, but this evidence supports the thought that current guidelines actually need to be tightened.

Learn how to take control of your indoor air quality to avoid health problems

Although you may not be able to control outdoor air pollution, you can manage your indoor air quality. Simply put, it’s essential to take steps to do so for the sake of your health. Take simple, common-sense steps to improve indoor air quality, such as:

• Ensuring you maintain proper ventilation within your home to improve overall air quality, reducing the presence of mold, allergens, and dust mites.
• Use your household exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchens.
• Be sure those exhaust fans are vented to the outdoors.
• Choose natural, unscented personal care products.
• Eliminate toxic chemical cleaners from your home.
• Choose non-toxic options like baking soda and white vinegar, which can be mixed with water.
• Vacuum and mop regularly to combat pet dander
• Use essential oils to fragrance your home instead of air fresheners or candles, which can compromise indoor air quality.
• Add houseplants throughout your home to help purify the air.
• And, of course, if possible be sure to use a good quality, air purification system inside your home.

While you can’t control the air pollution outdoors and you’ll never be able to avoid exposure to all pollutants, you can take measures to improve your indoor air pollution. Do what you can at home immediately to lower your risk of diabetes and other health problems associated with air pollution.

Sources for this article include:

TheLancet.com
MedicalNewsToday.com
WHO.int
NaturalHealth365.com