Aircraft noise goes beyond disturbed sleeps and damaged eardrums. It may also cause hypertension, strokes, kidney diseases and dementia. According to national projections, of 6 million Britons who are suffering from high blood pressure, 100,000 would eventually suffer from strokes and heart attacks and half may not survive.
Dr. Lars Jarup, who co-wrote the study from Imperial College London, said, "Our studies show that night-time aircraft noise can affect your blood pressure instantly and increase the risk of hypertension. This was surprising. Such an immediate effect from noise events has never been shown."
The findings of the Hypertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports study will see print in the European Heart Journal. It examined 140 people who reside near the Heathrow, Athens, Malpensa and Arlanda airports for at least 5 years. Their blood pressures were individually checked every 15 minutes, while noise levels and types were logged down in their sleeping quarters.
The Hyena study said in the evenings noise levels in residences near airports may reach 30 decibels. For every 10 decibel hike, the chances of having hypertension goes up by 14 percent, Jarup said.
Earlier studies said 20 percent of Europe residents, or 80 million people,are constantly bombarded by unhealthy and sometimes fatal airport noise levels.
