Effect of noise stress on some cardiovascular parameters and audiovisual reaction time

A study of the effect of noise stress on some of the physiological parameters was carried out on healthy male workers of thermal power station (exposed to sound level 90-113 dBA) and compared with age and sex matched healthy controls (exposed to sound level 48-66 dBA). The parameters recorded were heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), galvanic skin resistance (GSR), auditory and visual reaction time (ART and VRT) and audiogram. Significant impairment in audiogram at 3000 Hz and 4000 Hz, increase in HR, SBP, DBP and decrease in GSR, ART and VRT were recorded in workers who were exposed to noise stress. Also a higher prevalence of hypertension was observed in them and that they were at a higher risk of developing hypertension than the control group. It was also observed that these modifications are related to duration of exposure to noise stress. It is presumed that all the above extra auditory effects are due to activation of autonomic nervous system and hypothalamo-hypophyseal adrenal axis, and the resultant release of catecholamines from adrenal medulla due to noise stress.