Noise: An invisible health hazard

What it is, what it does and what to do about it

Although you can’t see it, touch it, taste it or smell it—it constantly surrounds you. It can even lead to health problems. It’s “unwanted sound,” also known as noise.

Why it’s a problem

Noise is a problem when it’s loud enough and/or lasts long enough to damage hearing. According to the National Institutes of Health, sounds above 85 decibels can damage hearing and may cause permanent hearing loss. To put that in perspective: A power mower emits 90 decibels, a rock concert emits 110, and a firecracker emits 150.

Noise is also a problem when it causes stress. You’ve probably felt stressed by certain sounds, especially those that are unwanted and out of your control, like the noise in a hospital or near a construction site or airport. On the other hand, some sounds aren’t a source of stress if they’re planned and pleasant such as the music you choose to play.

So, noise can cause health problems, even if it’s not loud enough to cause hearing damage. How does this happen? The body perceives noise as a threat, switches into “fight or flight mode” and unleashes a cascade of stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol.

Research suggests that our bodies aren’t able to totally tune out or “get used to” noise. Even if it seems we’ve become accustomed to it, the body is still cranking out stress hormones and vulnerable to the potential consequences: high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, irritability, aggression, anxiety, depression, decreased motivation to complete challenging tasks, impaired learning in children, and sleep disturbance.

What to do about it

Periods of silence can take the edge off noise-induced stress. Plan a few moments of quiet time in your day: turn off the music in the car, temporarily unplug from technology, or take a leisurely bath or a walk in nature.

Avoid noisy environments whenever possible. If your community lacks noise ordinances or noise pollution regulations, visit noisefree.org for ideas. Double-pane windows can seal out a great deal of environmental noise. When shopping for appliances, choose those with lower decibel ratings. If harmful levels of noise are unavoidable, wear ear protection such as heavy-duty foam earplugs.

For annoying but not dangerous noise, try earplugs, noise-cancelling ear phones or a smartphone’s white noise app.

Having trouble thinking, talking, sleeping? It could be the noise. Although noise may follow you wherever you go; the solution can, too.

For more: noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov

Karen Giles-Smith, MS, RDN, is a local registered dietitian who specializes in nutrition therapy for clients with disordered eating and eating disorders.