We often talk about how radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and causes 21,000 American deaths per year, but did you know it might increase the risk of stroke, too?
New data about radon and strokes
A recent report in Neurology suggests that radon exposure can increase stroke risk by as much as 14%. Dr. Eric Whitsel, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, tracked 149,000 women over 13 years and reported nearly 7,000 strokes. After dividing the group into three groups based on their home’s radon levels, those in the high radon group had a 14% increased risk of stroke compared to the low radon group. Additionally, those in the middle group had a 6% increased risk. Though more studies are needed to confirm these findings, there is reason to believe radon exposure contributed to the increased stroke risk.
What Utahns can do to reduce stroke risk
Conservatively, 1 in 3 homes in Utah has high radon levels. To keep yourself and your loved ones safe from radon-induced lung cancer and an increased risk of stroke, test your home for radon every two years. If your home tests high, consider having a radon mitigation system installed.
You can request a free radon test here.
