Do you live next to a busy road? Here is the effect of noise on your health

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Experts said noise pollution is linked to life-threatening conditions, including cardiovascular problems, type 2 diabetes and dementia.

“Many of us don't think noise is harmful, but it has a huge impact on population health,” says Charlotte Clarke, professor of epidemiology at St George's University in London.

Many studies also link poor health to noise pollution and sleep disorders.

"Your ears continue to hear sounds even when you are asleep, and if there is noise, it may wake you from your sleep, which is not good for your health and is linked to many health problems, including heart disease, obesity and mental health problems," Clark explains.

In this regard, Clark reveals what loud noises can do to your body:

hearing loss

Exposure to intense noise is the second biggest cause of hearing loss (after aging), and you may not notice the effects until years after your first exposure to noise.

“The damage happens throughout your life,” Clark says. “Your hearing can be damaged by just one extreme noise event.”

Heart health

Imperial College London scientists found that people who live near Heathrow Airport are more likely to be hospitalized due to heart problems.

It is thought that noise - even at night - can raise stress levels, affecting the heart.

"If something loud happens while you're sleeping, your blood pressure changes and your heart rate goes up," Clark explains. "For someone who has lived in a house overlooking a busy road for 10 to 20 years, the impact can be severe."

the brain

A Danish study, published in the medical journal BMJ, found that people exposed to high traffic noise have a 27% increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

“Loud noise constricts blood vessels leading to the brain, which we know is a risk factor for dementia,” Clark says. “We are also starting to hypothesize whether noise might cause inflammation in the body and lead to oxidative stress, which are also risk factors for dementia.” Hearing loss is also linked to dementia.

The silent killer (diabetes)

Noise pollution may also play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

A research review revealed that people who were exposed to loud noise were 22% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Studies conducted on mice also found that chronic noise exposure can lead to insulin resistance, a precursor or cause of type 2 diabetes.

Obesity

A joint study between the Universities of Oxford and Leicester found a link between high traffic noise and obesity.

It turns out that people who live near a busy road have an increased risk of obesity.

“Unwanted noise can impact quality of life, harm sleep, and may increase stress levels, which in turn can lead to weight gain,” Clark says.

It turns out that sleep deprivation increases the number of calories a person eats the next day.

Psychological health

Unwanted noise can also increase your risk of mental health problems.

A 2019 review of ten studies found that the risk of depression increases under conditions of exposure to road traffic noise.

“We know that exposure to aircraft, road and rail noise is associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety,” says Clark. “If you feel disturbed by noise, this is a stress response, as your body begins to release stress hormones that lead to poor mental health.”