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Noise pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes
Especially in the cities people are exposed to a continuous noise pollution. According to scientific studies, the constant noise has a negative effect on the human organism. According to a new study, traffic noise increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Crash harms the health
In this day and age, we are almost always exposed to noise pollution. In cities there is a lot of noise, not least because of the often immense road traffic. This is not only annoying, but also harms the health. Studies have shown that the continuous noise makes many urbanites depressed and increases blood pressure. It also causes headaches, nervousness, inner restlessness and stress. In addition, traffic noise increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, as researchers from Switzerland now report.
A recent study has shown that road traffic noise increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. (Image: SENTELLO / fotolia.com) Short and long term effects of traffic noise
As early as 2014, an interdisciplinary Swiss study consortium as part of the SiRENE study by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has been investigating the short-term and long-term effects of traffic noise pollution on the Swiss population.
The research project SiRENE (Short and Long Term Effects of Transportation Noise Exposure) is being conducted under the supervision of the Swiss TPH (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute).
First results of the study have now been presented at the ICBEN Congress (International Commission on Biological Effects of Noise) in Zurich.
Noise at night disturbs sleep
The results of the study published so far show that air, rail and road noise can cause adverse health effects.
According to the scientists, the association with cardiovascular disease is most noticeable in street noise. The risk of dying from a heart attack increases by four percent per ten decibels of road noise at the place of residence.
But the risk of hypertension and heart failure also increases due to traffic noise.
"Particularly critical are likely to be noise events at night, which disturb sleep regularly," said study leader Martin Röösli, Professor of Environmental Epidemiology at the Swiss TPH and the University of Basel in a statement.
"Already lower noise levels than previously thought have a negative impact on health."
Noise also benefits diabetes
In addition to cardiovascular diseases, the traffic noise also increases the risk of developing diabetes. This is shown in a study of 2,631 people who are exposed to different levels of noise.
"Two mechanisms play a role," explained Nicole Probst-Hensch, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Swiss TPH.
"On the one hand, the chronic release of stress hormones influences insulin metabolism. On the other hand, sleep problems are known to have a negative impact on metabolism in the long term. "
Although the health effects of traffic noise are substantial, factors such as exercise and smoking are much more important, according to Röösli. (Ad)