Adults exposed to high levels of residential transportation noise from road traffic, trains, and aircraft face a significantly higher risk of serious heart-related events and are more likely to develop cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago. The study, which analyzed data from more than 100,000 adults, found that the link between noise exposure and cardiovascular harm was similar among people with healthy sleep patterns and those with unhealthy sleep, suggesting that good sleep habits do not counteract the adverse effects of noise.
“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 lead study author Joseph Nguyen, M.D., an internal medicine resident physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and a member of the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center in Boston. “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.”
The researchers examined average 24-hour transportation noise levels above 45-50 decibels, roughly equivalent to moderate rainfall or typing on a keyboard. Exposure to noise above 50 decibels was associated with an 8% to 10% increase in the development of major heart disease risk factors, and greater odds of a major adverse heart event, even after accounting for age, sex, and sleep quality. When analyzing risk factors individually, the strongest relationship was seen with high cholesterol, followed by high blood pressure and diabetes.
“Road traffic noise has become a significant issue; however, research indicates that noise from other forms of transportation, such as aircraft noise, can also increase the risk of heart disease,” Nguyen said. “The World Health Organization states that noise is a public health risk and has set limits on noise exposure to help reduce these effects.”
The findings add to a growing body of evidence on environmental stressors and heart health. A recent American Heart Association Global societies unite to address environmental threats to heart health and a joint scientific statement, Environmental Stressors and Cardiovascular Health: Acting Locally for Global Impact in a Changing World, highlight the need for policies to reduce adverse environmental exposures. Previous research has also linked Years of exposure to air pollution and road traffic noise may raise heart failure risk.
Nguyen suggested that individuals with high noise exposure consider strategies to reduce noise levels at home, such as installing thicker drywall, windows, and doors; placing bedrooms in the quietest areas; planting dense trees and vegetation to absorb noise; and using earplugs during sleep. “This study adds to the growing evidence that shows environmental factors such as air pollution, noise, artificial light, chemical pollutants and climate-related events may be contributing to the significant burden of cardiovascular disease as a leading cause of death worldwide,” said co-author Keith Churchwell, M.D., FAHA, past American Heart Association volunteer President and adjunct associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt School of Medicine. “Creating stronger policies to reduce adverse environmental exposures and building durable infrastructure that emphasizes wellness, will help us tackle these environmental issues and help improve heart health.”
The study is preliminary and was presented as an abstract at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026, a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements in cardiovascular science. The association provides resources on cardiovascular risk factors and overall financial information available here. For more news, visit NEWMEDIAWIRE.
