Nisha Pandey

Health and Me

Living Near Busy Roads? Traffic Noise May Raise Heart Disease Risk Even With Healthy Sleep

Living in cities could mean your home may be located near a busy road, railway line or airport. It also means your comfort and sleep may get interrupted from time to time due to excessive noise. After living at such places for a long time, the traffic sounds may turn into white noise for you but it does not mean that you are completely safe. 

A recent study says that constant exposure to transportation noise could increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, even if you sleep for seven to nine hours every night.

The research, presented at the <span>American Heart Association</span>'s (<span>AHA</span>) Scientific Sessions 2026, found that adults who were exposed to higher levels of transportation noise were more likely to face cardiovascular risk factors like high cholesterol, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/normal-blood-pressure-readings-may-not-tell-the-full-story-study-finds-article-156427305" data-type="tilCustomLink">hypertension</a> and diabetes.

The study is based on health records of 108,051 adults, with an average age of 57 years. They also used US government data to estimate average daily transportation noise levels around the homes of participants. About one-third of participants were exposed to noise levels exceeding 50 decibels.

<h2>Transportation Noise &amp; <span rel="noindex">Heart Disease</span> Risk</h2>

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/bowel-pancreatic-liver-nhs-trial-offers-new-blood-test-to-20000-patients-that-could-detect-13-cancers-article-156460940" data-type="tilCustomLink">Bowel, Pancreatic &amp; Liver: NHS Trial Offers New Blood Test To 20,000 Patients That Could Detect 13 Cancers</a>

The study found that exposure to transportation noise above 50 decibels could lead to an 8% to 10% increase in the development of major cardiovascular risk factors. The researchers examined average 24-hour transportation noise levels above 45 to 50 decibels. These estimates included noise from road traffic, trains and aircraft.

Dr Joseph Nguyen, an internal medicine resident at <span>Massachusetts General Hospital</span>, emphasised that the measurements represented daily averages rather than peak noise levels. "These levels are similar to moderate rainfall or typing on a keyboard," he explained.

He added that noise levels can rise considerably during specific events. Subway stations, for example, may reach more than 100 decibels when trains arrive or depart.

In terms of individual risk factors, the strongest link was observed with high <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/scientists-find-new-way-to-fight-bad-cholesterol-could-it-offer-an-alternative-to-statins-article-156452131" data-type="tilCustomLink">cholesterol</a>, followed by high blood pressure and diabetes.

One of the findings that stood out in the study is that the cardiovascular risk due to transportation noise was the same among those with healthy as well as unhealthy sleep schedules. 

For this study, unhealthy sleep was defined as having a diagnosed sleep disorder or regularly sleeping fewer than seven hours or more than nine hours per night.

"The key finding of our study is that the relationship between noise exposure and cardiovascular disease events, and the number of cardiovascular risk factors developed, was similar among people with and without unhealthy sleep, suggesting that healthy sleep is not protective against adverse heart impacts of noise exposure," said Dr Nguyen.

"We expected that disordered sleep would influence the relationship between noise exposure and heart disease. It was surprising to find that sleep health appeared to play no role," he added.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/nccn-issues-first-ever-guidelines-for-cancer-caregivers-article-156460832" data-type="tilCustomLink">NCCN Issues First-Ever Guidelines For Cancer Caregivers</a>

<h2>How Could Noise Exposure Affect Heart Health?</h2>

Experts believe that long-term exposure to transportation noise may activate the body's stress response, which could affect cardiovascular health over time.

Even when people do not wake up or feel disturbed by noise, their bodies may still unconsciously respond to these environmental sounds. 

This could result in changes in stress hormones, blood pressure and other processes. Repeated exposure may contribute to cardiovascular strain over time.

World Heart Day: Doctors Answer Your Questions About Heart Health & Modern Lifestyle Habits

<h2>How To Reduce Exposure To <span rel="noindex">Traffic Noise</span>?</h2>

Researchers suggested several ways people living in noisy neighbourhoods could reduce exposure inside their homes:

<ul><li>Install thicker windows, doors and walls to improve sound insulation.</li><li>Place bedrooms in the quietest areas of the home.</li><li>Plant dense trees and vegetation around the property.</li><li>Consider using earplugs while sleeping.</li></ul>

Dr Nguyen said the findings highlight the importance of reducing environmental noise through better urban planning and infrastructure for protecting long-term cardiovascular health.

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Living in cities could mean your home may be located near a busy road, railway line or airport. It also means your comfort and sleep may get interrupted from time to time due to excessive noise. After living at such places for a long time, the traffic sounds may turn into white noise for you but it does not mean that you are completely safe. A recent study says that constant exposure to transportation noise could increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, even if you sleep for seven to nine hours every night.The research, presented at the American Heart Association's (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2026, found that adults who were exposed to higher levels of transportation noise were more likely to face cardiovascular risk factors like high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes.The study is based on health records of 108,051 adults, with an average age of 57 years. They also used US government data to estimate average daily transportation noise levels around the homes of participants. About one-third of participants were exposed to noise levels exceeding 50 decibels.Transportation Noise & Heart Disease RiskAlso read: Bowel, Pancreatic & Liver: NHS Trial Offers New Blood Test To 20,000 Patients That Could Detect 13 CancersThe study found that exposure to transportation noise above 50 decibels could lead to an 8% to 10% increase in the development of major cardiovascular risk factors. The researchers examined average 24-hour transportation noise levels above 45 to 50 decibels. These estimates included noise from road traffic, trains and aircraft.Dr Joseph Nguyen, an internal medicine resident at Massachusetts General Hospital, emphasised that the measurements represented daily averages rather than peak noise levels. "These levels are similar to moderate rainfall or typing on a keyboard," he explained.He added that noise levels can rise considerably during specific events. Subway stations, for example, may reach more than 100 decibels when trains arrive or depart.In terms of individual risk factors, the strongest link was observed with high cholesterol, followed by high blood pressure and diabetes.One of the findings that stood out in the study is that the cardiovascular risk due to transportation noise was the same among those with healthy as well as unhealthy sleep schedules. For this study, unhealthy sleep was defined as having a diagnosed sleep disorder or regularly sleeping fewer than seven hours or more than nine hours per night."The key finding of our study is that the relationship between noise exposure and cardiovascular disease events, and the number of cardiovascular risk factors developed, was similar among people with and without unhealthy sleep, suggesting that healthy sleep is not protective against adverse heart impacts of noise exposure," said Dr Nguyen."We expected that disordered sleep would influence the relationship between noise exposure and heart disease. It was surprising to find that sleep health appeared to play no role," he added.Also read: NCCN Issues First-Ever Guidelines For Cancer CaregiversHow Could Noise Exposure Affect Heart Health?Experts believe that long-term exposure to transportation noise may activate the body's stress response, which could affect cardiovascular health over time.Even when people do not wake up or feel disturbed by noise, their bodies may still unconsciously respond to these environmental sounds. This could result in changes in stress hormones, blood pressure and other processes. Repeated exposure may contribute to cardiovascular strain over time.How To Reduce Exposure To Traffic Noise?Researchers suggested several ways people living in noisy neighbourhoods could reduce exposure inside their homes:Install thicker windows, doors and walls to improve sound insulation.Place bedrooms in the quietest areas of the home.Plant dense trees and vegetation around the property.Consider using earplugs while sleeping.Dr Nguyen said the findings highlight the importance of reducing environmental noise through better urban planning and infrastructure for protecting long-term cardiovascular health.

living near busy roads? traffic noise may raise heart disease risk even with healthy sleep

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