Hypertension is the most common chronic condition in the U.S.

by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition

Photo credit: Vlada Karpovich

In 2023, the number of American adults age 85 and older was 6.1 million, projected to more than double to 13.7 million by 2040. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that hypertension (high blood pressure) was the most common chronic condition among these “old old” Americans. Based on analysis of data collected during the 2022-2023 National Health Interview Study, 66.9% of non-institutionalized “old-old” Americans had hypertension, 55.9% had arthritis and 46.5% had high cholesterol.

Why am I writing about hypertension on a blog devoted to noise issues? Because noise exposure causes both high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This is true for workers and for the public. For members of the public, transportation noise is the most common source of unwanted noise. In 2014, Hammer and colleagues estimated that 145 million Americans were at risk for noise-induced hypertension. Their analysis didn’t break down that number by age category. Of course, in 2025 the number of Americans affected by noise pollution is undoubtedly higher.

High blood pressure is not a benign condition in the young or old. It causes heart failure, heart attacks and strokes. Hypertension can be treated, but every drug has side effects and these can be worse in older people. One of the challenges in treating hypertension in the extreme elderly is that lowering blood pressure can contribute to falls, especially when someone stands up from a bed or chair. Blood pressure varies over the day and is influenced by hydration status and many other factors, so it’s clinically challenging to get the medications just right. 

Maybe reducing noise pollution will reduce blood pressure in the elderly? Maybe exposure to less noise would also prevent the hearing loss so common in older people, too?

One thing is certain: A quieter world would be a better and healthier world for all.