In a new study involving data on 3.5 million Danes, scientists from the Department of Clinical Research and
Noise in the ears is most pronouncedannoying whistling sounds in the ears that bother many. But for the first time, researchers have found a link between residential road noise exposure and hearing-related outcomes.
“In our data, we found over 40,000cases of tinnitus, and it turned out that for every 10 dB of noise in people's homes, the risk of developing tinnitus increases by 6%, ”says study co-author Manuella Lech Cantuaria, Ph.D.
She and her colleague Jesper Hwass Schmidt, Associate Professordepartments of clinical research and the chief physician of the Odense University Hospital, are concerned about the many health problems that traffic noise seems to cause. In 2021, they found a correlation between traffic noise and dementia.
“We need to pay more attention to the importancetraffic noise for health. It is alarming that noise seems to increase the risk of tinnitus, cardiovascular disease and dementia,” says Jesper Hwass Schmidt.
He believes that the high number of reported cases of tinnitus is probably just the tip of the iceberg.
“In general, about 10% of the population experience tinnitus from time to time. This is due to stress and poor sleep, which can be exacerbated by traffic noise,” notes Schmidt.
Researchers also believe that noise at night can be even worse for health.
“It affects our sleep, which is so important forrestoration of both physical and mental health. Therefore, it is worth considering whether something can be done to improve sleep if you live next to a busy road,” says Manuella Lech Cantuaria.
Read more:
Scientists have named the top 6 ways to "save" the memory of older people
A mysterious imprint underground surprised scientists. He is over 1000 years old
Sword thought to be fake turns out to be a 3,000-year-old Bronze Age artifact