Noise pollution promotes stroke

Continuous exposure to noise over years significantly increases the risk of stroke. Above all, older people and urban residents are affected.

26/01/2011

Especially in cities people are exposed to a continuous noise pollution. The constant traffic noise has a scientifically confirmed negative effect on the human organism. Researchers have now shown that even minimal sound levels are not just a risk for heart attack and high blood pressure. Almost every twelfth stroke is now triggered by constant noise.

Noise in the big cities damages the health
People in big cities are exposed to constant noise pollution. From all sides, the residents are bothered with noise and noise. Residents of skin roads in particular are experiencing increasing sound maximum values ​​every day. In the past, some studies have already pointed out that constant noise can have a health-damaging effect. So far, it has been known that the louder the risk of suffering a heart attack, the louder it is. Researchers from the Danish Cancer Society have now found from a study that the risk of stroke also increases when people are exposed to constant noise.

Study data of over 50,000 people evaluated
For the study, the scientists examined the data of more than 50,000 subjects. They found that even 10 decibels of traffic noise was enough to increase the risk of stroke by 14 percent. In a closer examination, the researchers found that the risk was not significantly increased in study participants under 65 years. Rather, people over the age of 65 were affected. Per 10 decibels of noise, the risk of stroke increased by 27 percent. The louder the noise level, the higher the risk of stroke. The noise levels were not very pronounced. 60 decibels corresponds to the volume of a stereo system when the volume of the room is subdued.

Other risk factors were excluded
To exclude further risk factors, the researchers considered additional burdens such as environmental pollution, noise from trains and planes as well as unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking, alcohol and obesity. For the evaluation, the Danish scientists used a special calculation system that could differentiate and differentiate between the individual regions, their noise levels and the state of health and age of the participant. For several years, the researchers had also observed the sound level of individual regions. They differentiated between traffic volume, driving speed, road condition as well as height and distance of the residential areas and houses. As the minimum sound value, the research team determined 42 decibels. The maximum value was 82 decibels. About 35 percent of the subjects were exposed to a higher load of more than 60 decibels. About two-thirds of the participants who had been charged did not change their place of residence during their studies.

19 percent of all strokes are responsible for the constant noise pollution
However, the data can not be used as a general value, because the noise pollution changes constantly depending on location and time. In addition, the scientists mainly examined noise levels in major Scandinavian cities. Nevertheless, the scientists summarize in the science magazine „European Heart Journal“, The data clearly show that people over 65 years of age have higher levels of stroke risk under constant noise.“Eight percent of all strokes and 19 percent of all strokes of people over 65 are caused by traffic noise.“ The study director Mette Sorensen concluded in the journal. However, it is still unclear why persistent noise leads to an accumulation of cardiovascular diseases. This would require further medical studies. (Sb)

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Noise: Every eighth child has hearing loss
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