Effect of noise on blood pressure and 'stress' hormones.

1. Noise stimulation (95 dBA) for 20 min caused a significant increase in diastolic (12%, P less than 0.001) and mean arterial pressure (7%, P less than 0.001) in 15 healthy normotensive male subjects. 2. There was no significant change in systolic blood pressure or heart rate during exposure to noise. 3. Adrenaline, noradrenaline, prolactin, cortisol and growth hormone concentration in venous plasma were not affected during noise stimulation.