The Science, Technology and Society Lecture Series - Inaugural Lecture: Noise, a Novel Cardiovascular Risk Factor

Please note that this event is postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. Please check our CyI Events page for updates as the situation changes.

Noise: A Novel Cardiovascular Risk Factor

Prof. Dr Thomas Münzel
Professor of Cardiology and Angiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
 

Abstract

Noise has been found associated with annoyance, stress, sleep disturbance, and impaired cognitive performance. Furthermore, epidemiological studies have found that environmental noise is associated with an increased incidence of arterial hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke. Observational and translational studies indicate that especially nighttime noise increases levels of stress hormones and vascular oxidative stress, which may lead to endothelial dysfunction and arterial hypertension.

Novel experimental studies found aircraft noise to be associated with oxidative stress–induced vascular damage, mediated by activation of the NADPH oxidase, uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and vascular infiltration with inflammatory cells. Transcriptome analysis of aortic tissues from animals exposed to aircraft noise revealed changes in the expression of genes responsible for the regulation of vascular function, vascular remodeling, and cell death.  His talk will focus on the mechanisms and the epidemiology of noise-induced cardiovascular disease with focus on nighttime noise and provide novel insight into the mechanisms underlying noise-induced vascular damage.

About the speaker

Prof. Dr. Thomas Münzel has been Professor of Cardiology and Angiology at the University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Medical Director of the Center for Cardiology since 2004.

He is the founder of the Mainz Heart Foundation and co-initiator of the Gutenberg Health Study and was scientific director of the newly founded Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH) at the University Medical Center in Mainz in 2010. 2009-2019 Thomas Münzel was responsible for the certification process of the German Chest Pain Units (CPU).

His research focuses on endothelial function and the adverse health effects of environmental stressors such as noise and air pollution on the cardiovascular system. He has published more than 800 articles.



Science, Technology and Society Lecture Series

The Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) and the Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation (CREF), in partnership with The Cyprus Institute (CyI), having the common objective of furthering the public understanding and public appreciation of scientific research, as well as its impact on society, agreed to launch a joint lecture series, which will bring to Cyprus world leaders in a wide range of scientific and research fields.

The public lecture series is aimed not only at the Cypriot research community, but at all interested members of the public, with the aim of sharing cutting-edge scientific advances in an accessible and engaging way, and to connect ground-breaking scientific and technological research with current social and innovation challenges. The Lectures are also intended to stimulate a wider discussion on the future of science, society and technology.