2024-04-28 14:30:00
The noise is unpleasant, but it can also be dangerous for our cardiovascular health. In any case, this is what researchers say, whose results from the study of recent epidemiological data have just been published in the journal Circulation research.
Greater risk of heart attack and stroke
Epidemiological data show that traffic noise (just like railway or air noise) increases the risk of mortality in general, but above all that is linked to cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure or ischemic heart disease.
But it is especially noise from night traffic that will have significant effects:
- Interruption and reduced sleep time
- An increase in stress-related hormones
- An increase in oxidative stress in the vascular system and brain, which ultimately leads to increased formation of free radicals, substances that are harmful to healthy human cells and contribute to the development of certain diseases.
These three factors can promote the development of vascular disorders, inflammation and high blood pressure, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In their work, the researchers observe that noise can also have an impact on genes (genetic networks), epigenetic processes (changes in gene activity), circadian rhythm, the vascular system and the brain, oxidative stress, inflammation and metabolism.
Another lesson from the study: For every additional 10 decibels (dBA), the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure increases by 3.2%.
Recognize noise as a risk factor
“With an increasing proportion of the population exposed to harmful road traffic noise, even following the Covid-19 pandemic is over, efforts to control noise and laws to reduce it are of great importance for future public health,” says Professor Dr Thomas Münzel, lead author of the study, it is also important to us that traffic noise is finally recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, thanks to solid evidence.
Researchers hope that this request for recognition will be heard by public authorities, because it is a major public health problem. In Ile-de-France alone, within the dense Ile-de-France area, 85% of the population, or 8.6 million people, are exposed to levels above 53 dB(A) road noise overall, depending on Broken parif.
“For exposure levels above 40 dB(A) at night and 50-55 dB(A) during the day, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers that extra-auditory effects of noise may manifest: sleep disturbances, discomfort, increased cardiovascular risk, concentration difficulties and delays in learning “, indicates Buitparif.
The information portal our environment notes that “at least one million years of healthy life will be lost each year to traffic noise”.
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