Environmental noise can cause heart attacks and strokes



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WASHINGTON (Xinhua) .- A preliminary study has shown that being exposed to sound of the environment could increase the risk of heart attack and of shots.

Noises can stimulate the activity of a brain region involved in the stress response and in turn promote the inflammation of blood vessels, according to a study presented in the current Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association.

The findings revealed that people exposed to high levels of chronic noise, such as highways and airports, exhibited a higher risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.

"Research reveals a link between noise in the environment and cardiovascular disease, but the underlying psychological mechanisms remain unclear"commented the author of the study, Azar Radfar, researcher Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

"We think our findings offer an important insight into the biology behind this phenomenon," Radfar said.

L & # 39; study

The researchers analyzed the links between noise exposure and major cardiovascular events in 499 healthy people (average age 56 years).

Validation of the diagnosis was made on a subset of 281 subjects.

Using PET and CT images, scientists have evaluated the activity of the tonsil, a region of the brain involved in the regulation of stress and emotional response, among other functions.

The researchers also reviewed participants' medical records after the first studies of the images.

Of the 499 participants, 40 had a cardiovascular event (eg, a heart attack or stroke) within five years of the first tests.

The researchers used participants' personal addresses and noise level calculations derived from the United States Department of Transportation Aviation and Highway Noise Hazard Map.

Those most exposed to noise had more intense amygdala activity and more inflammation of the arteries.

These people also had a risk three times higher According to the study, people with a heart attack or a stroke or any other major cardiovascular event are compared to people exposed to a lower noise level.

The risk remained high even after researchers examined other cardiovascular and environmental risk factors, including pollution, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and diabetes.

Chain reaction

An additional analysis revealed that high levels of amygdala activity seem to trigger a disease that increases heart risk due to inflammation of the blood vessels, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

"Patients and their physicians should take into account chronic noise exposure when they are evaluating cardiovascular risks and could take steps to reduce or mitigate this chronic exposure."said Radfar.

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