People who live near airports and are exposed to high levels of aircraft noise may be at greater risk bad heart functionaccording to a study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology.

The research team, led by University College London, looked at detailed data on 3,635 people living near four major UK airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester). He then compared the structure and function of the hearts of those who lived in areas with higher noise from aircraft with those who lived in areas with lower noise.

After adjusting the data for participants’ health and lifestyle factors, it was found that those living in areas with higher than recommended aircraft noise levels had more stiff and thicker heart muscles which contracted and expanded less easily and were less efficient at pumping blood through the body. This was particularly the case for people exposed to higher aircraft noise at night.

In separate analyses 21,360 people not exposed to aircraft noiseresearchers found that these types of heart abnormalities could lead to a two- to fourfold increased risk of a major cardiac event, such as a heart attack, stroke, or life-threatening arrhythmias.

The researchers clarify that the study is observationalso it cannot conclude with certainty that high levels of aircraft noise caused these differences in heart structure and function.

However, they add that her results add to a growing body of evidence that aircraft noise can negatively affect health.