Sitting in traffic can get your blood boiling temporarily but living near it might raise your risk of high blood pressure long-term, according to a Swedish study.Researchers from Lund University Hospital found that among 24,238 Swedish adults aged between 18 and 80, those living near noisier roads were more likely to report having high blood pressure than those living in more peaceful surroundings.
"Road traffic is the most important source of community noise," said researcher Theo Bodin in a statement.
"We found that exposure above 60 decibels was associated with high blood pressure among the relatively young and middle-aged, an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke."
Middle-aged adults with the highest traffic-noise exposure - averaging more than 64 decibels which is just louder than an ordinary conversation - were almost twice as likely to report high blood pressure compared to other people.
The findings, published in the online journal Environmental Health, which involved calculating the average 24-hour traffic noise level in the area were people lived, add to evidence that chronic noise exposure may spell health trouble.
Other studies have found that people living near airports or working in noisy jobs have an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart attack. The theory is that noise essentially signals to the body that it's in a stressful situation and so chronic exposure may cause long-term increases in stress hormone production, heart rate and blood pressure.So, what's a modern day person to do? First, be aware that constant noise may be a factor in high blood pressure. If you have mild or moderate hypertension, consider quieter surroundings. As an alternative, you might purchase those Bose(R) sound-reducing headphones. For a cheaper noise reduction system, buy a set of gun muffs for your ears. That's what I use when the wife wants to want TV in the bedroom and I want to sleep.
And, like I've told friends of mine who live in God-awful climates and complain, you can always move!
Excellent post, David...can definitely identify. Orlando is certainly not NYC or LA, but it's not only the traffic but it's the idiot IN the traffic that make my blood pressure boil. No one is courteous anymore. No one uses blinkers. Everyone is on the phone or worse, texting. I think you are dead on that this is a huge contributor to high blood pressure as well as the well publicize road rage. Take care, (your former co-worker for Dr. Evil..I'm the old marketing person you used to know but never met from Orlando.....think hard)
ReplyDelete