People who live close to airports could be at greater risk of heart attacks, life-threatening heart arrhythmias and strokes, a study shows.
Those who lived in areas where aircraft noise was higher than recommended were found to have stiffer and thicker heart muscles, which were less efficient at pumping blood around the body. This was especially the case for people exposed to higher aircraft noise at night, according to the study by British researchers.
They said that could be due to disturbed sleep and the fact that people are more likely to be at home at night and exposed to the noise, they said.
Dr Gaby Captur, of the University College London Institute of Cardiovascular Science and consultant cardiologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London, told The National that previous animal experiments have shown that mice exposed to simulated aircraft noise experienced higher blood pressure and the release of stress hormones.
This happens in several ways, she said, including activating the body's fight or flight response, which results in short-term circulatory changes such as a raised blood pressure and heart rate, as well as indirectly, by creating annoyance, stress, and the disturbance of sleep.
"These reactions can lead to long-term health outcomes through chronic stress responses, potentially contributing to conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and poor sleep, resulting in next-day fatigue among those living near airports," she added.
The study also builds on a previously known link between high levels of aircraft noise with higher blood pressure and obesity in people – both of which were found to account for a significant portion of the link between noise and differences in heart structure and function in the new study.
“Between a quarter and half of the link was attributed to a higher BMI (body mass index) among participants exposed to higher levels of aircraft noise, while between nine per cent to 36 per cent of the link was attributed to these participants having higher blood pressure (this was among those exposed to daytime aircraft noise only)," said first author Dr Cristian Topriceanu, of the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science.
“Other factors that could be triggered by the stress response to aircraft noise include impaired sleep, inflammation, and atherosclerosis (build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in our arteries).”
The study is observational, so the researchers could not say with certainty that high levels of aircraft noise caused the differences in heart structure and function.
“However, our findings add to a growing body of evidence that aircraft noise can adversely affect heart health and our health more generally,” said senior author Dr Captur.
“Concerted efforts from government and industry are needed to reduce our exposure to aircraft noise and mitigate its impact on the health of millions of people who live close to airports or under flight paths.”
The study, which was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), studied detailed heart imaging data from 3,635 people who lived close to four major airports in England – Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester airports.
Around eight per cent lived in an area with high daytime aircraft noise, defined as more than 50 decibels, while three per cent lived in an area with high noise at night, between 11pm and 7am, at 45 decibels on average. The WHO recommends aircraft noise limits of 45 decibels on average during the day and 40 decibels on average at night.
Heart MRIs were carried out at least three years after the readings of aircraft noise were taken. Comparing the hearts of those who lived in areas with higher aircraft noise with those who lived in lower aircraft noise areas, and taking into account factors like age, sex and lifestyle factors, the researchers found that those who still lived in a higher aircraft noise area had about 10-20 per cent worse heart structure and function than their counterparts in these areas who had moved away.
They then looked at a separate sample of 21,360 people who had undergone detailed scans of their heart, concluding that someone with stiffer and thicker heart muscles, like those who live in high aircraft noise areas, are two to four times more likely to suffer a heart attack, abnormal heart rhythm, or stroke.
“We are concerned that the type of abnormalities we saw with night-time aircraft noise might result in increased risk of heart problems and stroke. Aircraft noise at night has been shown to affect sleep quality and this may be an important factor affecting health,” said Professor Anna Hansell from the University of Leicester.
“The role of noise on heart health is currently under investigation. However, there are many established ways to look after your heart. These include eating a healthy and balanced diet, keeping physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, giving up smoking if you smoke, reducing alcohol consumption, keeping conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes under control, and taking medication including cholesterol-lowering drugs if prescribed by your doctor.”
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Company profile
Name: Tharb
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Founder: Eisa Alsubousi
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
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How Tesla’s price correction has hit fund managers
Investing in disruptive technology can be a bumpy ride, as investors in Tesla were reminded on Friday, when its stock dropped 7.5 per cent in early trading to $575.
It recovered slightly but still ended the week 15 per cent lower and is down a third from its all-time high of $883 on January 26. The electric car maker’s market cap fell from $834 billion to about $567bn in that time, a drop of an astonishing $267bn, and a blow for those who bought Tesla stock late.
The collapse also hit fund managers that have gone big on Tesla, notably the UK-based Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Cathie Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF.
Tesla is the top holding in both funds, making up a hefty 10 per cent of total assets under management. Both funds have fallen by a quarter in the past month.
Matt Weller, global head of market research at GAIN Capital, recently warned that Tesla founder Elon Musk had “flown a bit too close to the sun”, after getting carried away by investing $1.5bn of the company’s money in Bitcoin.
He also predicted Tesla’s sales could struggle as traditional auto manufacturers ramp up electric car production, destroying its first mover advantage.
AJ Bell’s Russ Mould warns that many investors buy tech stocks when earnings forecasts are rising, almost regardless of valuation. “When it works, it really works. But when it goes wrong, elevated valuations leave little or no downside protection.”
A Tesla correction was probably baked in after last year’s astonishing share price surge, and many investors will see this as an opportunity to load up at a reduced price.
Dramatic swings are to be expected when investing in disruptive technology, as Ms Wood at ARK makes clear.
Every week, she sends subscribers a commentary listing “stocks in our strategies that have appreciated or dropped more than 15 per cent in a day” during the week.
Her latest commentary, issued on Friday, showed seven stocks displaying extreme volatility, led by ExOne, a leader in binder jetting 3D printing technology. It jumped 24 per cent, boosted by news that fellow 3D printing specialist Stratasys had beaten fourth-quarter revenues and earnings expectations, seen as good news for the sector.
By contrast, computational drug and material discovery company Schrödinger fell 27 per cent after quarterly and full-year results showed its core software sales and drug development pipeline slowing.
Despite that setback, Ms Wood remains positive, arguing that its “medicinal chemistry platform offers a powerful and unique view into chemical space”.
In her weekly video view, she remains bullish, stating that: “We are on the right side of change, and disruptive innovation is going to deliver exponential growth trajectories for many of our companies, in fact, most of them.”
Ms Wood remains committed to Tesla as she expects global electric car sales to compound at an average annual rate of 82 per cent for the next five years.
She said these are so “enormous that some people find them unbelievable”, and argues that this scepticism, especially among institutional investors, “festers” and creates a great opportunity for ARK.
Only you can decide whether you are a believer or a festering sceptic. If it’s the former, then buckle up.
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How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
