Health library

The harmful effects of noise

Sept. 10, 2026—We live in a noisy world. Even a quiet night at home may come with an unwelcome soundtrack: the drone of traffic or the roar of a jet plane. And all that racket isn't just a nuisance. It may affect your well-being. It's why the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other experts consider noise pollution a public health problem.

Even relatively low noise levels may, over time, affect our health. That's especially true for noises that are constant or beyond our control.

Noise may affect our well-being in several ways:

Heart problems

Living with heavy traffic noise may increase the risk of heart problems, reports the American Public Health Association (APHA), UNEP and others.

According to a study presented at an American College of Cardiology scientific conference that looked at health records from more than 1.2 million people living in Houston, residents of loud neighborhoods were 17% more likely than those in quieter places to:

• Have a heart attack or a stroke.
• Need treatment for blocked arteries.
• Die from any cause during the study period.

A 2022 study assessed noise impacts in New Jersey. It found that high noise levels of 65 decibels or higher (similar to a loud conversation) accounted for about 1 in 20 heart attacks among 16,000 participants.

Other studies from around the world have linked noise exposure to heart problems and high blood pressure.

Stress and mental health

Unwanted noise can be stressful. What's more, it may contribute to some mental health conditions.

For example, a German study found a link between noise and a twofold increase in the risk of anxiety and depression, reports APHA.

Parkinson's disease

While more studies are needed to confirm the findings, a 2026 study in JAMA Neurology suggests that noise pollution may increase the risk of Parkinson's.

Researchers looked at the records of more than 3 million people in Denmark. They found a link between exposure to traffic noise and a higher risk of Parkinson's disease. Having access to a room in a home that faced away from a busy road seemed to lessen this risk.

Unsatisfying sleep

Even noises that don't wake you up can affect your sleep quality and prevent you from feeling refreshed, according to the Sleep Foundation. For example, a noisy highway could cause you to spend less time in certain sleep stages, which our bodies normally cycle through each night.

Noise may also cause stress hormones and blood pressure to rise at night. Although the long-term effects remain unclear, noises that disrupt your sleep may be linked to conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, the Sleep Foundation reports.

If noise is keeping you awake, you might try running a fan, using a white noise machine or listening to an online video of relaxing sounds, suggests the Sleep Foundation.

Your environment can affect your health

From heat waves to air pollution, discover more and learn tips to stay well in our Environmental Health health topic center.

Sources

• American College of Cardiology. Living Near Noise Pollution Tied to Greater Risk of Heart Attack.
• American College of Cardiology. Transportation Noise: An Overlooked Risk to Heart Health.
• American Public Health Association. Noise as a Public Health Hazard.
• JAMA Neurology. Road Traffic Noise, Noise Difference Between Residential Facades, and Risk of Parkinson Disease.
• Sleep Foundation. How Noise Can Affect Your Sleep Satisfaction.
• United Nations Environment Programme. Frontiers 2022: Noise, Blazes and Mismatches – Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Clean Air Act Title IV – Noise Pollution.