Noise Exposure and Its Effect on Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Cortisol Levels: a Review

Introduction: Noise has been recognized as an environmental pollutant associated with increased heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels. Objective: To establish, through a critical review of the literature, the relationship between noise exposure and the variability of heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels in individuals exposed to prolonged noise. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in SCOPUS, PubMed, and LILACS using MeSH and DeCS terms. The search yielded a total of 253 articles, of which 50 were selected for this review. Results: Noise exposure leads to an increase in heart rate, posing a risk for cardiovascular events. There is a positive relationship between blood pressure and noise exposure. Noise induces the release of hormones such as catecholamines and corticosteroids, which impact the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Conclusions: The evidence suggests an indirect and positive relationship between significant and prolonged noise exposure as a stressor and the variability of heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and cortisol levels.