Aircraft noise may exacerbate heart inflammation, study finds

According to new research published in the scientific journal Cardiovascular ResearchNoise generated during air travel can help develop and worsen ischemic heart disease. The study was carried out by researchers from the Department of Cardiology at the Mainz University Medical Center in Germany.

The study explored how aircraft noise could affect the mechanisms responsible for inflammation in the heart and blood vessels. To conclude, the scientists placed mice in environments with airplane noise for 24 hours for four days in a row—some mice suffered myocardial infarction.

During tests with mice, the scientists found that an average of 72 decibels, with a peak of up to 85 decibels, can affect proinflammatory aortic genes. In addition to causing inflammatory cells to infiltrate into the heart tissue of the mice, the noise also increased the percentage of proinflammatory leukocytes in the blood of the regions furthest from the heart.

“Our translational results suggest that people who have been exposed to noise in the past will have worse outcomes if they have an acute myocardial infarction later in life,” said the study’s lead researchers, Michael Molitor and Philip Wenzel.

noise infarction

In addition to testing on mice, the scientists used data from 15,000 people who participated in a long-term population study conducted by the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). Thus, they realized that sounds cause negative effects on human heart functions as well.

According to cardiologist and noise expert Thomas Münzel, the study offers impressive results, bringing more details on how airplane noise can cause heart attacks. “There is no longer any doubt that transport noise should be considered a major cardiovascular risk factor comparable to hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, smoking and diabetes,” said the expert.