Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the leading causes of death globally. While classic risk factors like smoking, hypertension, and diabetes are well known, environmental influences remain underestimated. Yet, air pollution, noise exposure, artificial night lighting, and the effects of climate change play critical roles in the development and worsening of CVD. This article highlights how environmental stressors impact heart and vascular health.

Air pollution and cardiovascular disease

Among environmental threats, air pollution is a primary concern. Studies show prolonged exposure to fine particles (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and ozone increases cardiovascular risk. Inhaled pollutants cause systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, damaging vascular walls, promoting atherosclerosis, and raising blood pressure.

Epidemiological data show air pollution is linked to about 45–50% of premature deaths from CVD [1]. Even below regulatory thresholds, fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing vascular abnormalities and increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

This impact is even more pronounced in vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, diabetics, and those with existing heart disease. These findings underscore the urgent need for stricter regulation and enhanced air quality monitoring.

Noise: the silent enemy of the heart

While air pollution is visible and widely studied, noise is a commonly overlooked risk factor. Yet chronic exposure to traffic, aircraft, or rail noise harms the cardiovascular system. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified noise as a proven risk factor for hypertension and heart disease.

Noise activates the sympathetic nervous system, triggering excessive cortisol and adrenaline secretion, which increases blood pressure and heart rate. Prolonged exposure leads to chronic stress, vascular inflammation, hypertension, and arrhythmias. A meta-analysis showed that every 10 dB increase in road traffic noise is associated with an 8% rise in CVD risk [2].

Nighttime noise is especially concerning. Interrupted sleep due to intermittent noise disrupts normal blood pressure and metabolism regulation. Studies show amygdala activation—linked to stress—is directly correlated with nocturnal noise exposure, further increasing heart risk.

Climate change and other environmental factors

Climate change poses a major public health challenge with significant cardiovascular impacts. Extreme temperatures, particularly heatwaves and cold snaps, increase cardiovascular stress and the risk of acute events like heart attacks and strokes.

Wildfires and dust storms—now more frequent—expose people to high levels of fine particles, worsening existing cardiovascular conditions. Similarly, studies suggest that light pollution may indirectly increase CVD risk by disrupting circadian rhythms, influencing hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.

Finally, extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods indirectly affect heart health by limiting medical access, raising psychological stress, and altering healthy behaviors, including reduced physical activity and poor diet.

Why environmental factors must be addressed

CVDs are not solely the result of genetics or individual lifestyle. Environmental conditions play a crucial role in their onset and progression. Air pollution, noise, artificial lighting, and climate change are major threats to cardiovascular health.

In response, both individual and collective mitigation measures are essential. Better pollution regulation, reduced noise and light disturbances, and infrastructure adaptation to climate change are vital for protecting public heart health. Personal actions also help—using air purifiers, wearing hearing protection, and managing nighttime light exposure can reduce risk. Incorporating these issues into public health policies and encouraging individual action could greatly reduce the environmental impact on cardiovascular disease.

[1] Source : Effets de l’exposition au bruit sur le système cardiovasculaire – Medizinonline

[2] Environmental Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease