People living near airports may face an increased risk of poor heart function, a recent study suggests. Researchers found that consistent exposure to aircraft noise could lead to heart structure abnormalities and increased risk of cardiac events, stroke, and arrhythmia.
Heart Muscle Stiffening
The study from University College London (UCL), published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on Jan. 8, analyzed heart imaging data from over 3,600 participants living near four major airports in England.The researchers found that residents exposed to high noise levels had stiffer, thicker heart muscles, compromising their hearts’ ability to contract and pump blood efficiently. This effect was particularly pronounced among those exposed to nighttime aircraft noise, potentially due to disrupted sleep.





