13/4/2007
Your Letters
Noise can cause serious stress problemsYou published the daft comment ‘Nine more people will suffer as a result of noise pollution’ (Camberley News, April 6) on the TAG Farnborough Airfield expansion of weekend flights.
Any sane, rational person knows this is daft. The link between psychological stress and noise is now well understood to such a degree that noise weapons have been developed to kill people.
As long ago as 1977 Marmot and others (The Lancet volume 350 pages 235-239) demonstrated the link between lack of control and stress-related illnesses. Those with no control over events were four times more likely to die of a heart attack than those who had control. In 1988 De Longis and others demonstrated that it is the everyday hassles that appear to affect health more than significant life changes (‘The impact of daily stress on mood’ Health Psychology volume 1 pages 119-136).
We mustn’t forget that most of the time stress levels stay within the ‘normal range’ and there is such a thing as ‘good’ stress. This is called ‘eustress’. I think Sir Donald Spiers must get a good dose of this when he sees your headlines.
However, thank you to the News for raising the issue in your Leader comment.
Terence Henderson
Wharfenden Way
Frimley Green
First printed in:
Aldershot News and Mail
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