It’s no secret that excessive noise can have a detrimental effect on hearing, but did you know it can also put your cardiovascular health at risk?
According to today’s hearing fact, noise pollution is among “underrecognized” environmental stressors such as air pollution and extreme heat that, together, have been steadily increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)—the leading cause of mortality worldwide—for years.
This discovery prompted the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, and World Heart Federation to issue a joint statement this year, calling for clinical and regulatory action to address these risk factors.
Let’s dig into this declaration and find out how certain environmental factors are increasing the odds of cardiovascular disease.
Statement underscores impact of environmental stressors on CVD
While traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease have long been documented, from diabetes to genetic predisposition, the joint statement affirmed the growing evidence showing “a rising prevalence of ubiquitous environmental risk factors may play an increasingly significant role in the genesis and rising prevalence of [non-communicable diseases].”
In fact, according to the statement, recent estimates suggested the cardiovascular risk from specific environmental stressors was exceeding that of many conventional risk factors.
These environmental risk factors included:
- Noise and light pollution (traffic, aircraft, construction and industrial noise, street and building lights)
- Climate change (temperature extremes, wildfires, and hurricanes)
- Air pollution (ozone, volatile organics, etc.)
- Water and soil contamination
- Chemical pollution
According to the statement, the combined activity of these stressors (which create even more intensified exposure environments particularly in urbanized areas) were contributing to cardiovascular disease through “shared and interacting pathways” involving:
- Oxidative stress – an imbalance of the body’s free radicals and antioxidants that causes cell damage.
- Inflammation – your body’s response to injuries, illness, etc., which can be harmful if it occurs in healthy parts of the body.
- Autonomic imbalance – a nervous system disorder that disrupts automatic functions including blood pressure and heart rate.
- Endothelial dysfunction – a disease occurring as the result of low levels of nitric oxide gas in blood vessel wall, narrowing the arteries and causing chest pain.
“The interplay among these stressors amplifies overall cardiovascular risk and underscores the need for…prevention strategies,” the statement concluded.
Read more about the environmental risk factors contributing to cardiovascular health risk and proposed solutions, here.
What is noise pollution and what precautions can we take?
Today’s hearing fact raises important awareness of the need to address the causes of environmental stressors and to develop solutions for the sake of public health.
And while today’s hearing fact focuses on the combined effect of environmental variables on cardiovascular health, let’s take this hearing space to focus on the related risk factor—noise pollution: How do we define it, and what can we do to protect ourselves from its impact?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes noise pollution as occurring when “unwanted or disturbing sound” enters our environment. According to the EPA, sound is considered unwanted when it either “interferes with normal activities such as sleeping (or) conversation,” or “diminishes one’s quality of life.” Examples may include traffic, airplane, crowd, or construction noise.
Obviously, noise pollution can be difficult to avoid or control. But there are ways we can try to prevent it from affecting our well-being.
At home, we can:
- Decrease volume and duration spent listening to audio devices like TVs or smartphones.
- Soundproof the home from outside noise by adding insulation to walls (example: fiberglass or wool) or soft furnishings such as rugs or carpet.
- Reduce appliance noise by setting timers on portable machines or turning them off more often (examples: air conditioners, blow dryers, washing machines, etc.).
- Wear hearing protection like earplugs or protective earmuffs to reduce exposure to noise from a busy street outside the home, our vacuum or lawnmower, and so on.
Outside home, we can:
- Wear hearing protection to safeguard against sudden/impulse or continuous noise (examples: using power tools, attending live stadium events, hunting, etc.).
- Reduce time spent in noise by departing a noisy area completely or even momentarily (Did you know noise breaks can help reduce strain on the ears?).
- Monitor noise levels using a sound meter app and know when surrounding noise is safe or harmful.
These lists show that it doesn’t take much to be proactive against noise pollution for the sake of our overall health. Get started today for a healthier tomorrow.
Interested in hearing protection? A licensed hearing care professional can help you find the best method for your needs.