Noise Pollution Poses a Threat to Heart Health

About one-third of Americans are regularly exposed to unhealthy levels of environmental noise, from traffic to airplanes. Loud noise has long been linked to hearing loss and even psychological stress, but a growing body of research is showing connections between noise and an increased risk for cardiovascular problems.

A 2018 study in Noise & Health analyzed health data from more than one million people and found people living near major airports have up to a 7% higher risk of stroke than those living in similar but quieter neighborhoods. A separate study of nearly 25,000 cardiovascular deaths over a five-year period found significant increases in nighttime mortality after airplane flyovers among people living near Switzerland’s Zurich Airport. The study, published in European Heart Journal in 2020, noted the phenomenon was even more pronounced among women.

Researchers believe the mechanism for the cardiovascular consequences of noise lies in the endothelium, the inner lining of arteries and blood vessels. Louder noises, especially during sleep, set off a cascading stress response that inflames the endothelium. An impaired endothelium affects blood flow and contributes to a number of cardiovascular illnesses including high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.

Scientists long believed these negative effects occurred over a period of years, but research now shows that even one night of exposure to loud noise causes endothelial dysfunction. A 2019 study published in Basic Research in Cardiology found impaired blood vessel function occurred almost immediately among healthy adult subjects that were subjected to train recordings during sleep.

The World Health Organization estimates that traffic noise is responsible for the loss of more than 1.6 million years of healthy life among Western Europeans, and that number is likely to grow as more people move to cities, as the United Nations predicts.

Experts say additional research is necessary to better understand the physiological effects of noise pollution, but until that time, individuals can take steps to protect themselves by ensuring their sleep environments are as quiet as possible.