Noisy traffic increases the risk of cardiovascular disease

New research by an international group of noise experts finds strong evidence that traffic noise increases the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.

Noise pollution is increasing, affecting human health - (Photo: REUTERS).

The team includes experts from the Copenhagen Cancer Institute (Denmark), the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, the Perelman School of Medicine at Philadelphia University (USA) and the cardiology department at the University of Mainz Medical Center (Germany). ).

Their epidemiological studies have shown that traffic noise such as airplane noise, train noise, vehicles. all increase the risk of illness and death from myocardial ischemia, heart failure, stroke and diabetes.

In particular, traffic noise at night causes frequent sleep disruption and shortens sleep time, increases stress hormone levels, and increases oxidative stress in blood vessels and the brain. These factors can promote vascular disorders, inflammation and high blood pressure, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A recent analysis of traffic noise and cardiovascular disease integrated into the above study also demonstrated that for every 10dBA (decibel - a unit of measuring noise level), the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke increases. and heart failure increased by 3.2%.

The study results were published in the peer-reviewed journal Circulation Research .

Based on these results, the research team calls for traffic noise to be recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year people in Western Europe lose more than 1.6 million years of healthy life because of traffic noise.