Traffic Noise Can Increase Risk Of Cardiovascular Diseases Like Heart Attack, Diabetes, Stroke: Research

New Delhi: Researchers have found enough evidence to establish a link between a spike in traffic noise and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack. Researchers are calling for this type of noise pollution to be recognised as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

The international team of researchers reviewed epidemiological data, which provides evidence for identifying risk factors of a certain disease.

In their review, the researchers found evidence that for every 10-decibel increase in noise coming from road traffic, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack, stroke and diabetes, heightened by 3.2 per cent. In particular, they said, night-time traffic noise that disrupts and shortens sleep time can increase levels of stress hormones in the blood vessels, thereby promoting inflammation, high blood pressure and vascular diseases.

“It is also important for us that traffic noise is now finally recognised as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease due to the strong evidence,” according to Thomas Münzel, senior Professor at the University Medical Centre Mainz, Germany, and lead author of the study published in the journal Circulation Research.