Does loud traffic noise increase the risk of stroke?

Exposure to loud traffic noise can increase the risk of stroke in people over the age of 65, possibly because noise raises stress levels. Danish researchers found that for every 10 decibels that noise went up, the risk of stroke went up 14%.

Prior studies have linked traffic noise with increased risk of heart attack and other cardiac conditions, but this is the first that associates noise and stroke. Elderly people might be more at risk due to fragmented sleep patterns.

Of course, all this makes sense and common sense. Living in the south now, when I actually travel north and start to encounter the noise and congestion of traffic, I know my stress level rises. It would figure that the older you get, the more susceptible you become to being harmed by these stressors.