Spanish researchers find that people who live in cities, in noisy spaces, have a higher risk of suffering from a serious stroke, conversely, for people who live in the countryside, it is reduced.
Living in the city can degrade health. If the consequences of pollution are known, Spanish researchers highlight another harmful element for human organisms: noise. In research carried out in Barcelonathey show that noise pollution can aggravate strokes.
What is a severe stroke?
The research team studied nearly 3,000 patients admitted between 2005 and 2014 for ischemic stroke at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona. This type of stroke is caused by a blocked blood vessel in the brain. Their level of severity can be determined using several elements: the part of the brain affected, the extent of the brain damage or the presence of other risk factors such as atherosclerosis or diabetes.
The more greenery, the less severe the strokes
The researchers collected information on their exposure to fine particles, noise and the proximity of plant areas. People living in noisy places have a 30% increased risk of suffering a serious stroke, those living near green spaces have a 25% reduced risk. “The more green spaces there are, the less severe the strokes, confirms the lead author of the study, Dr. Rosa Maria Vivanco. And the more noise, the more serious it is. This suggests that factors other than those traditionally associated with stroke may be important.” The authors point out that living near plant areas has multiple benefits for human health: it reduces stress, increases the level of physical activity or promotes social interactions.
What about air pollution?
The researchers drew no conclusions about the effects of air pollution on stroke risk because the participants were exposed to similar levels of fine particles in their lifetime, which did not allow for relevant findings. Other studies have been devoted to this subject. In 2016, in The Lancet, scientists have proven that one stroke in 10 could be attributed to air pollution in 2013 in high-income countries. According to theWorld Health Organizationeach year, 15 million people have a stroke worldwide.
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