02 | 21 | 2008 Posted By Regan Zambri & Long

Loud Noise Contributes To High Blood Pressure: New Study

Nighttime noise from airports or busy streets raises the blood pressure of sleeping people, even if the noise never awakens them from sleep.  The finding is the result of recent research by scientists at Imperial College London which appears in the current issue of European Heart Journal. 

Scientists observed the sleep patterns and blood pressure of 140 sleeping volunteers in their homes, all of which were located near London's Heathrow and three other major European airports.   They identified noticeable spikes in participants' blood pressure levels which correlated perfectly to noise events in which the noise registered higher than 35 decibels.  The spike in blood pressure levels occurred even if the volunteer never awakened from sleep.  In all, air traffic noise caused an average systolic increase of 6.2 mmHg, and an average diastolic increase of 7.4 mmHg.  Increases of approximately the same severity were observed for other loud noises, such as nearby traffic, and in some instances, noise associated with a partner's snoring.

People with high blood pressure are at greater risk than others for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and dementia. 

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