The researchers led by Caroline Eriksson from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm have discovered that even low-grade noises disrupt the normal activity of the heart and circulatory system.
The tests involved 110 people, who were wearing portable monitors that recorded heart rate. Physicians evaluated the noise situation, in which the participants of the experiment happened to be. As shown by the results of the experiments, the heart rate accelerated even under the conditions when the noise level did not exceed 65 decibels, which is equivalent to loud talking. When the noise is reduced, the heart rate gets slower, and the blood vessels relax.
The doctors have found that in noisy environments heart rate variability becomes insufficient. It increases the likelihood of heart attack because many are depressed and disturbed by the noise. According to cardiologists, extraneous noise is not a serious challenge to the heart muscle and can only distress an individual.
The previous studies have shown that noise disturbs sleep, and these disorders are associated with high blood pressure and higher levels of cardiovascular disease.
