Numerous studies have shown that chronic noise is more than just an annoyance. This is a largely unrecognized health threat that increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack worldwide.
We’ve all been told to limit the volume of our headphones to protect our hearing. However, in some places the unrelenting noise of everyday life can have lasting effects on the entire body.
Anyone living in a noisy neighborhood may find themselves attuned to the cacophony. However, the data show the opposite. Preliminary exposure to noise causes the body to overreact, amplifying the negative effects. Even people living in relatively peaceful rural areas can be at risk.
effects on the body
A siren sounds. dog barking. The engine roars. A jackhammer rattles.
Annoying noises enter the body through the ears and are transmitted to the stress-detection center of the brain. This area, called the amygdala, triggers a series of reactions in the body. When the amygdala is chronically overactivated by noise, the response begins to have detrimental effects.
Your endocrine system can overreact, causing excess cortisol, adrenaline, and other chemicals to flow through your body. The sympathetic nervous system can become overactive, causing a rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and the production of inflammatory cells. Over time, these changes can lead to inflammation, high blood pressure, and plaque buildup in your arteries, increasing your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
When researchers analyzed brain scans and health records of hundreds of people at Massachusetts General Hospital, they made a startling discovery. People who live in areas with high traffic noise levels are more likely to have hyperactive amygdala, arteritis, and develop arteritis within the first five years of age. years – major cardiac events.
This association persisted even after the researchers adjusted for other environmental and behavioral factors that could worsen heart health, including air pollution, socioeconomic factors, and smoking. In fact, noise can instantly trigger a heart attack. High levels of aircraft noise exposure in the 2 hours before his death during the night are associated with heart-related mortality.
What’s too big?
Sound is often measured on a scale of decibels (dB), with near-perfect silence being 0 dB and a firecracker exploding within 1 meter of the listener being about 140 dB.
A passing freight train peaks at about four times the decibels of a quiet room. But the difference in audible train noise is more dramatic, with trains sounding over 500 times louder than hers.
This is because the decibel scale is logarithmic rather than linear. In general, every 10 dB increase doubles the audible volume perception. This means that regular exposure to a few decibels of noise above moderate levels can trigger adverse health reactions.
According to the World Health Organization, average road traffic noise above 53 dB or average aircraft noise exposure above approximately 45 dB is associated with adverse health effects.
A growing body of research suggests that the relationship between noise and illness is eerily consistent. the study For example, over 4 million people followed for more than 10 years found a 2.9% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease for each 10dB increase in traffic noise exposure starting at just 35dB.
Scientists believe that noticeable fluctuations in noise levels can exacerbate the effects on the body. Even if the average decibel levels are similar, they perceive harsh sounds that disrupt their surroundings, such as repetitive jet engines, pulsating leaf blows, train whistles, etc., to be louder on busy roads. I’m thinking it might have a more negative effect on health than the constant whistling sound.
Swiss researchers measured and compared Overnight transport noise along a main road with railroad tracks. They found that highways and railroads had the same average decibel level for eight hours at night. However, while highway noise was relatively steady throughout the night, regular train passing made a much more dramatic change, and the sound quality was detrimental.
and Subsequent Swiss StudiesThe degree of nocturnal ‘noise intermittency’, the degree to which audio events can be distinguished from background levels, has been associated with heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.
