Is Too Much Noise Harmful to Your Health?
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Noise might be annoying, but it can be harmful to your hearing and overall health.
A study by Harvard University found noise from vehicles, trains and planes is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women in the U.S.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states noise is the second largest environmental cause of health problems following air pollution. Noise pollution is unwanted or disturbing sounds that interfere with daily life, including sleeping and concentrating. It increases risk of sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, dementia, hearing impairment, tinnitus, depression and anxiety.
What kind of noise is harmful?
The kind of noise that impacts health is varied and typically stems from human activity rather than nature.
According to the WHO, the main causes of noise pollution include:
- Vehicle traffic
- Lawn care equipment
- Trains
- Air traffic
- Building construction
- Industrial facilities
- Wind turbines
- Loud music and audio
Ongoing noise in the decibel range of 50 to 70 can interfere with our health, and noise higher than 100 decibels can cause hearing damage.
How does noise cause health problems?
Noise pollution causes stress. In the stress response, your body releases hormones such as cortisol. This hormone increases sugar in the bloodstream to help the brain function during an event your brain perceives as threatening. While cortisol helps us manage stressful events, you can experience negative health effects if your body is constantly producing the hormone.
Chronic stress is linked to high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are two main factors in cardiovascular disease. Stress can also raise blood glucose levels, which can lead to diabetes. In the stress response, the body can also increase insulin levels which over time can cause weight gain.
Other issues from chronic stress include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Digestive problems
- Headaches
- Muscle tension and pain
- Memory and focus problems
- Decreased job performance
Feelings of irritation from consistent noise contribute to the stress and lead to difficulty coping with it, according to a study. Ongoing exposure to noise can increase risk of maladaptive coping such as alcohol or substance use, which can further erode mental and physical health.
Noise bothers us even when we sleep. According to the Harvard study, noise when we are conscious or unconscious causes a stress response. Becoming accustomed to noise doesn’t mean it doesn’t bother us.
What can I do to reduce noise?
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates noise sources such as engines, we don’t have much control over the noise outside of our home. Here are tips to protect yourself and your home from loud noise:
- Use earplugs if you deal with regular noise pollution like traffic.
- Use ear protection when you mow the lawn, use the leaf blower, power tools or other loud machines.
- Keep music and audio content at a reasonable level. Use phone apps to monitor volume of media.
- Install heavy curtains or sound absorbing paneling or tapestries in your home.
- Build a fence and add bushes and trees in your yard.
- Spend time in quiet. Give your brain and ears a break from music, podcasts and TV.
- Take steps to manage chronic stress.
Image: Getty Images
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