A study in Germany recently found a link between increasing air pollution levels and high blood pressure. It is not clear how pollution affects blood pressure but it is suspected that pollution impacts the central nervous system, which controls blood pressure. Also, the pollutants may impact humidity and barometric pressure, which could, in turn, affect blood pressure.

The German study established that as the level of air pollution increased, the participating individuals' blood pressure rose correspondingly. Additionally, a study conducted in some of America's biggest cities indicated that air pollutants from cars and manufacturing plants are linked with heart disease and can lead to an increased chance of heart attacks and hospitalization.