London, April 14 (IANS): Apart from respiratory problems and cardiovascular diseases, increased air pollution also elevates your risk of suffering a stroke, says a new study.

The researchers found no clear link between noise pollution and increased stroke risk.

"Long-term exposure to fine-particle dust is associated with a higher risk of stroke, regardless of the subject's exposure to noise at his or her home address," said one of the study authors Barbara Hoffmann from Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf in Germany.

In a population of the German Ruhr region, she investigated how often stroke and cardiovascular disease occurred, as well as how much particulate matter and noise inhabitants were exposed to.

The study involved more than 4,400 residents aged between 45 and 74 years. They were selected over the time period from 2000 to 2003.

Information regarding stroke or cardiovascular disease occurrence and/or associated mortality was collected annually. In addition, the authors evaluated exposure to particulate matter and noise according to participants' place of residence.

The study appeared in the journal Deutsches Arzteblatt International.