"The literature suggests bringing down your blood pressure will help prevent heart disease and stroke, so understanding the relationship between noise and blood pressure is important," Lusk said.

The findings, which are published in the latest issue of Archives of Environmental Health, were based on a study in a Midwest auto assembly plant that connects noise exposure with elevated levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate.

Lusk and her collaborators studied different types of noise in the factory setting: continuous "usual" noise (recorded between 41-103 decibels), elevated continuous noise (found to be between 46-124 decibels), and spikes in instantaneous loud noises (113-145 decibels).

While others have looked at blood pressure in factory settings before, the team took a new approach---outfitting participants with mobile monitors to take blood pressure readings and record noise levels throughout the day. Noise readings were taken every minute, while heart rate and blood pressure were taken every 10 minutes.

The researchers conclude that blood pressure is more affected by overall noise exposure while the instantaneous peak noises affect heart rate. Noise exposure is both acute and chronic, as it seems to play out physiologically in multiple ways.

Using hearing protection to reduce noise levels entering the eardrum was significantly associated with keeping systolic blood pressure lower, and while the effect on diastolic pressure was statistically significant, the effect was in the same direction, Lusk said.

Helping workers reduce health problems associated with noise requires a multifaceted approach, Lusk said. In the best-case scenario, management would enforce use of hearing protection, appropriate training would be provided to employees, and reminders like posters in lunchrooms would explain to employees why hearing protection matters. (ANI)

Source: http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=168248&cat=World