Air and noise pollution-influence on or cause of heart disease

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) cause the death of more than 38 million people each year and thus represent the greatest contributor to the worldwide disease burden, which accounts for around 70% of mortalities. The majority of these deaths are due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The NCD risk correlates strongly with environmental stressors such as air pollutants, noise pollution, artificial light at night, and climate change, including extreme heat waves, dust storms, and forest fires. In addition to the traditional risk factors for CVDs such as diabetes, arterial hypertension, smoking, hypercholesteremia, and genetic predisposition, evidence is mounting that physicochemical factors in the environment contribute significantly to the high NCD rates. Moreover, urbanization is associated with accumulation and intensification of these stressors. This article summarizes the epidemiology and pathophysiology of environmental stressors such as noise and particulate matter, with a focus on NCDs. Possible solutions and mitigation strategies to reduce the effects of environmental stressors are discussed, with a focus on CVDs.