(NaturalHealth365)  That routine checkup where your doctor focuses solely on your cholesterol number is not enough to protect your heart.  Why?  Because most conventionally trained physicians ignore the danger of environmental toxins that are actually calcifying your arteries right now.

While Western medicine has spent decades fixating on dietary fats and genetic predisposition, a startling new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reveals that unrecognized metal pollutants surrounding us daily represent a silent driver of America’s heart disease epidemic.

The overlooked heart attack trigger hiding in your environment

Scientists from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health followed over 6,400 adults for a decade, analyzing their exposure to environmental metals by measuring urine samples.  What they discovered left even the researchers stunned.

The presence of these invisible metals from pollution created devastating damage to participants’ heart health:

• Cadmium increased coronary artery calcium by a staggering 51% at baseline and skyrocketed to 75% after 10 years
• Cobalt raised artery calcium by 47%
• Tungsten raised coronary calcium by 45%
• Uranium exposure increased heart-damaging calcium by 39%

“There is mounting evidence of the impact of metals on heart disease,” explained lead researcher Katlyn E. McGraw, PhD.  What makes these findings so alarming is that coronary artery calcification directly increases your risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease – already the world’s #1 killer, responsible for nearly one-third of all deaths globally.

Where these toxic metals are hiding in plain sight

You might think you’d need to work in a factory or mine to be exposed to dangerous levels of these metals, but the shocking truth is that millions of Americans are unknowingly absorbing these toxic substances every day through:

1. Tobacco smoke: If you smoke – or even stand near someone who does – you’re inhaling cadmium that tobacco plants have absorbed from the soil.  Once in your lungs, it builds up over time, gradually poisoning your arteries.
2. Contaminated food and water: Heavy metals like cadmium, mercury and uranium silently seep into food supplies and drinking water.  Leafy greens, rice, and shellfish often contain cadmium; tuna can have mercury; while well water in many regions carries uranium traces.  Even crops grown in metal-contaminated soil become dangerous sources of exposure.
3. Air pollution: Simply living near industrial zones, waste incinerators, or certain military sites exposes you to metals like tungsten that infiltrate the air you breathe.

The researchers found that specific populations face even higher risks.  Study participants from Los Angeles showed “noticeably higher urinary tungsten and uranium levels and to some extent, larger cadmium, cobalt, and copper levels” – highlighting how urban environments can significantly increase your exposure.

Additionally, older participants, those of Chinese descent, and people with less education showed elevated metal levels – suggesting certain demographics are being disproportionately affected by this hidden heart hazard.

The shocking comparison to traditional heart risk factors

What makes this discovery truly alarming is that the researchers found these metal exposures are comparable in magnitude to traditional cardiovascular risk factors like high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes.

As Dr. McGraw explained: “The associations of metals with CAC were comparable in magnitude to those for classical CVD risk factors.”

In other words, the metal pollution you’re exposed to every day could be damaging your heart as much as factors doctors have been warning about for decades.

“These findings highlight differences in exposure for certain populations based on where they live, previous exposures, and previous behaviors, like smoking,” Dr. McGraw noted.  “Populations experiencing higher metal exposures would be more at risk for atherosclerosis.”

Protecting yourself from this invisible heart threat

While health experts agree that environmental metal exposure is primarily a public policy issue requiring stronger regulations, there are practical steps you can take right now to reduce your risk:

1. Filter your water: Invest in a high-quality water filter, especially if you rely on well water or live near industrial areas.  Reverse osmosis systems can help remove uranium and cadmium that might be lurking in your drinking supply.
2. Choose safer foods: Be mindful of where your food comes from.  Opt for organic produce when possible, thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables to reduce contamination, and limit consumption of foods known to accumulate metals like shellfish and certain rice varieties.
3. Avoid tobacco completely: Quitting smoking will dramatically reduce your cadmium exposure.  Also avoid secondhand smoke, which carries these same toxic metals.
4. Monitor air quality: If you live near industrial zones, check local air quality reports and keep windows closed on high-pollution days.  Consider adding air purifiers to your home.
5. Support detoxification: Incorporate foods rich in iron, calcium and B vitamins, which Dr. McGraw notes “can protect from accumulation of some metals.”

“Ultimately, however, the most important measures to protect communities from metal exposure are related to environmental protection and regulations,” Dr. McGraw emphasized.  While personal choices can help, this research highlights the need for stronger environmental protections to protect heart health.

As this study makes clear, the invisible metals in our environment represent a major, under-recognized threat to cardiovascular health.  By taking steps to reduce your exposure, you can help protect your heart from this hidden danger.

Sources for this article include:

JACC.org
Medicalnewstoday.com