Environmental Exposures Raise Stroke Risk

A new review highlights how ambient air pollution, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, and urban stressors like noise and artificial light at night significantly elevate stroke risk beyond traditional factors. Each increase in long-term wildfire smoke exposure raises incident stroke risk by 1.3%. High artificial light at night correlates with a 28% higher stroke risk. These hazards disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities, compounding clinical vulnerability.