Several studies have already highlighted the deleterious effect of aircraft noise on blood pressure. But the cardiovascular harms don’t stop there.
Researchers from University College London examined detailed cardiac imaging data from 3,635 people living near four major airports in England.
They compared the hearts of those who lived in areas where aircraft noise was the highest with those who lived where the noise was the lowest.
The result: Where sounds were above recommended levels, the heart muscles were stiffer and thicker, contracted and expanded less easily, and were less effective at pumping blood around the body. Particularly pronounced effects during the night, probably due to sleep disruption.
A risk doubled… or even quadrupled
According to analyses, these abnormalities could increase the risk of major cardiac events such as myocardial infarction, serious arrhythmias or stroke by two to four times.
-As explained by Dr Gaby Captur, cardiologist and main author of this work, “ Noise in our environment can cause the release of the stress hormone cortisol and lead to overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system, causing an increase in blood pressure, constriction or dilation of the arteries… ».
« Our study is observational, so we cannot say with certainty that high levels of aircraft noise caused these differences in cardiac structure and function », he takes the time to clarify. “ However, our findings add to a growing body of evidence showing that these noises harm our health in general and our heart health in particular. »
While the role of noise on heart health is still being studied, there are many ways to take care of your heart:
- By adopting a healthy and balanced diet;
- By remaining physically active;
- By stopping smoking;
- By reducing your alcohol consumption.
Health
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