Highlights
- Environmental noise, including from road traffic and aircrafts is associated with the risk of common heart disease risk factors.
- Traffic noise has been shown in a number //of studies to increase the risk of heart disease, but questions still remain about the precise mechanisms.
- Noise induces a stress response where the nervous system is activated and levels of hormones shoot up, which will ultimately lead to vascular damage.
Traffic Noise and Heart Disease
Traffic noise has been shown in a number of studies to increase the risk of heart disease, but questions still remain about the precise mechanisms that lead to noise-induced heart disease.
In the review topic, researchers looked at novel translational noise studies demonstrating the molecular mechanisms that may lead to impaired vascular function, recent epidemiologic evidence of noise-induced cardiovascular disease, and the non-auditory effects of noise and their impact on the cardiovascular system.
How Noise Can Cause Heart Disease
- Noise induces a stress response, characterized by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and increased levels of hormones, which will initiate sequelae and ultimately lead to vascular damage.
- Transportation noise contributes to the development of heart disease risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes.
- Noise is associated with oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, autonomic imbalance and metabolic abnormalities.
The authors also looked at some of the mitigation strategies used around the world and said strategies like traffic management and regulation, the development of low-noise tires could help reduce noise, and air traffic curfews help reduce hazardous noise, but other strategies are needed.
Reference
- Thomas Munzel et al., ‘Environmental Noise and the Cardiovascular System.’ Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2018).
Source-Medindia