The noise of a passing airplane has caused Stress and Anxiety in people for a very long time. But, a recent study has found that this stress happens even during sleep. The study, printed in the European Heart Journal, claims night time airplane noise can raise blood pressure in people who are asleep despite not having conscious knowledge of the airplane passing overhead.
The results of this study are exceptionally disturbing due to the plans to expand international airports all over the world.
The 140 people participating in the study lived near airports in London, Athen's, Milan and Stockholm and all resided near major airports. During sleep, when the noise of the passing airplane reached decibels higher than 35, systolic blood pressure levels raised an average of 6.2 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure levels an average of 7.4 mm Hg.
Researchers participating in the study found a direct relationship between the noise level in decibels to the rise in blood pressure levels. The louder the recorded noise, the higher the blood pressure levels rose.
A direct rise in blood pressure levels can be a warning signs of
Heart attack and
Stroke. Further researcher is needed into the field of noise levels and blood pressure levels to determine if a reduction in noise can benefit overall cardiovascular health.
Previous studies of the same nature have also found noise to cause a rise in blood pressure levels, leading researchers to believe additional studies will be needed to determine the true effect of the noise on the heart health of the participants. This study was unique in that the participants were studied during sleep rather than awake hours.
