Traffic noise linked to higher risk of heart attack, study says

People who live in neighbourhoods with constant traffic noise are at higher risk of hospitalization for heart attacks compared with those who live in quieter areas, according to a recently published population-based study out of Rutgers University.

The paper, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in March, is among the first of its kind that specifically looks at North American data, according to researchers, with the results aligning with previous European studies that have documented similar associations between heart disease and transportation noise pollution.

“As cardiologists, we are used to thinking about many traditional risk factors such as smoking, hypertension or diabetes,” Dr. Abel Moreyra, a professor of medicine with Rutgers University and the lead author of the study, said in a statement.

 “This study and others suggest maybe we should start thinking about air pollution and noise pollution as additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease.”

Numerous studies have looked at the health impact of environmental hazards, including noise pollution, with previous research linking it to hearing loss, sleep disorders, chronic stress and high blood pressure. Earlier studies have also shown how air pollution from vehicle exhaust, for example, is tied to higher rates of heart disease and cardiovascular damage.