2023-09-20 08:16:05
by Elena Meli
Not just smog: light and noise pollution are also associated with increased cardiovascular risk. How to defend yourself and limit exposure
It is well known that polluted air is harmful, but it is not the only type of smog to beware of: the latest evidence shows that even being exposed to too much noise or a hyper-lit environment during the night increases the probability of cardiovascular diseases and also the mortality from heart attacks and strokes. The experts reported this during the last congress Knowing and treating the heart of Center for the Fight Against Heart Attack – Onlus Foundationalso giving some advice to protect yourself and limit the damage.
Dangerous smog
Air pollution is the fourth cause of disease and death worldwide, but as Francesco Prati, president of the Center for the Fight against Heart Attack, specifies, over 50 percent of these deaths can be attributed to cardiovascular diseases. Among the various components of smog, PM2.5 is the one that most correlates with heart and vessel diseases: for example, it is associated with a greater susceptibility to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries and a pro-inflammatory state in the blood vessels which favors the instability of the atherosclerotic plaques and thrombotic events, thus leading to a greater risk of heart attack. PM2.5 has small dimensions (the name refers to the diameter of the polluting particles, less than 2.5 microns) and can therefore penetrate deeply into the pulmonary alveoli and from there reach directly into the bloodstream, causing damage and dysfunction of tissues far from the lungs.
Too much noise, too much light
Noise pollution is also bad for the heart and can add to air pollution, enhancing its negative effects: traffic noise starts a chain reaction which induces an increase in heart rate and stress hormones, greater reactivity of platelets which therefore they tend to form thrombi, greater vascular inflammation and oxidative stress. Due to constant urban growth and the increase in mobility of products and people, noise pollution continues to grow: in 2020 the European Union estimated that approximately 20 percent of the population is exposed to traffic noise levels above 55 decibels and this number is probably underestimated – says Prati -. A recent study reported that combined exposure to air and noise pollution is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular events compared to exposure to either or neither, with an effect mediated primarily by inflammation of the blood vessels. The negative consequences of traffic noise are much more significant during the night, probably because they interrupt the sleep-wake cycle, deprive and/or fragment and disturb sleep. Night-time light pollution is also harmful, because it alters the production of melatonin, the circadian rhythm and the sleep/wake cycle; some investigations indicate that negative effects include a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes and hospitalizations for cardiovascular diseases.
How to defend yourself
To reduce the dangers, it is important that public measures are introduced, such as limiting traffic in urban centers and reducing emissions through diesel particle traps, catalytic converters or alternative fuels, but also acoustic barriers in densely populated areas and near sensitive areas such as schools and hospitals, the insulation of buildings from noise, speed limits and the enforcement of quiet road surfaces, the ban on night-time air traffic as noise during the night is associated with the most pronounced health effects. However, each of us can do something to protect ourselves, as Prati explains: Air purifiers and high-efficiency HEPA filters can be useful to reduce indoor levels of particulate matter, but also small changes in habits such as doing physical exercise outside busy areas. To reduce the impact of noise, gestures such as turning off electronic devices when not in use, closing doors when using noisy machines such as dishwashers or washing machines or turning them on before leaving the house, using earplugs or headphones to reduce noise help. loud noises, lower the volume when listening to headphones or speakers and do not stay in noisy areas such as industries or airports. To contain light pollution, there are dimmers, motion sensors and timers to reduce average lighting levels, preferably LED; Furthermore, turning off unnecessary internal lighting, particularly in offices at night, helps to reduce overall light pollution, as does keeping the shutters closed after sunset. Finally, you should use night mode on all electronic devices such as computers, tablets and smartphones because they contribute a lot to the light pollution we are exposed to.
September 20, 2023 (changed September 20, 2023 | 08:15)
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