"Noisy Workplace Linked To Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia" - Megan Brooks
Hypertension and hyperlipidemia are more common among workers exposed to loud noise in the workplace, suggests new research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It's estimated that noise on the job affects 41 million U.S. workers, the researchers say. "There are some biologic reasons why loud noise would raise blood pressure," said Maryann McLaughlin, MD, associate professor of medicine and cardiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, medical director of the cardiac health program and co-director of the women’s cardiac assessment and risk evaluation program at The Mount Sinai Hospital. "Any kind of stress, even though the patient may not consider a loud-noise environment particularly stressful, it definitely can raise adrenaline levels, which then can raise blood pressure. Even if they have become accustomed to that background level of noise, their body can still be affected in that way,” said Dr. McLaughlin.
- Maryann McLaughlin, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine, Cardiology, Assistant Professor, Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Medical Director, Cardiac Health Program, Co-Director, Women’s Cardiac Assessment and Risk Evaluation Program, The Mount Sinai Hospital