When you think about inflammation, blood sugar, and metabolic stressors, where do you look? Your plate, fridge, and pantry, right?
Of course you do. That’s where most of the culprits for type-2 diabetes and its associated conditions enter your life. But not all of them do. There is some evidence suggesting that you could potentially hear your way to metabolic disease.
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A new study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, has found that exposure to road noise can increase the risk of type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The findings echo the results of earlier work.
Looking at more than one-million participants between the ages of 35 and 100 living in Toronto over 15 years, researchers found that each 10-decibel increase in traffic noise accounted for an 8% jump in new diabetes cases.
Researchers believe that regular exposure to traffic noise—even subconsciously—can lead to several stress responses in the body. The noise may lead to the release of higher levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This may end up contributing to insulin resistance and other metabolic problems.
So, what are you supposed to do about this virtually unavoidable risk factor? If you don’t plan on moving to a quieter area, double-pained windows, earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, or insulation can help.
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But really, you’ll want to focus on paying more attention to other risk factors. If you live in an area with lots of traffic noise, it might be even more important to pay attention to blood sugar.
Getting more exercise, eating less sugar, and including more plant-based foods can all help manage blood sugar and control inflammation.
You can also try including certain spices and nutrients to help keep blood sugar down. Cinnamon, ginseng, and magnesium may all play a role in managing blood sugar to reduce the risk of metabolic disorders like type-2 diabetes.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
