Noise pollution - find out how to mitigate its harmful impact on health

Do you live in the hustle and bustle of the city, near a deafening road, a construction site or a noisy bar, and are you often woken up by loud noises at night? The urban world is heavily polluted with noise.
Just as the air, forests, seas and rivers can be polluted, so too can your hearing organ be exposed to noise pollution.
In today's world, it's really hard to avoid unhealthy decibels.
Even in our own home, we are "bombarded" by loud and penetrating sounds - from washing machines and dryers, through loud music coming from headphones, to excavators and machines on a nearby construction site...
If the noise is short-lived, it is not a problem
But did you know that long lasting exposure to noise and unwanted high decibels, in addition to damaging your hearing health, keeps your stress levels constantly elevated? In addition to the fact that noise can irritate you, it has a negative effect on yours mentally and physical health.

How noise affects health
Here's how noise pollution can affect your daily life and health:

Poor sleep quality
Although your eyes are closed at night while you sleep, unfortunately you cannot protect your ears (except with plugs). If you suddenly woke up in the middle of the night because of some loud sound, your brain will react in the "fight or flight" style, which is a typical stress reaction when your body is preparing to escape from some danger. Then the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol are secreted. . After that, it is difficult to fall asleep, because the body reacts to stress with increased blood pressure and heart palpitations.
Noise greatly impairs the quality of your sleep.
Hearing impairment and loss
Sounds weaker than 70 decibels do not cause hearing damage. But listening to too loud music or some other noise that is 85 decibels or more can lead to damage or even loss of hearing.

Hearing loss can be temporary (for a few hours), for example if you listened to too loud music for hours, or permanent, if you were exposed to unbearable noise for a very long time.

Anxiety and depression
A 2011 study showed a 28% increase in taking anti-anxiety medication among people who live near an airport and are exposed to 10 decibels of noise.

Another study found that people who live in areas with increased traffic noise have a 28% higher risk of depressive symptoms than those who live in a quiet area.

Heart diseases
Studies have shown that people exposed to noise pollution are much more prone to developing heart diseases, such as atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia - irregular heart rhythm.

Loudness measurement (in decibels):

• Whisper – 30 dB
• Normal conversation – 60 dB
• Noise in offices – 70 dB
• Noisy restaurants – 80-90 dB
• Engine sound – 100 dB
• Rock concert – 120 dB

Instead of more pleasant sounds, choose silence as often as possible!
Whenever you are exposed to too intense sounds, you usually reach for headphones with music to "camouflage" that noise and mentally protect yourself from it?

Although this can also help, especially if you listen to some pleasant and relaxing tunes, it is best to move to a quiet and peaceful place if you can.

Recent research has shown that longer periods of silence, in addition to significantly lowering the levels of stress hormones, in addition they help create new brain cells.

Silence is good for your brain
dr. Imke Kirste, a scientist from Duke University, says that two hours of silence a day helps creation neurons in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory, emotions and learning.

So silence literally contributes regeneration your brain. Thanks to silence, your brain is able to process information better and more efficiently.

Noisy environment has a negative effect on children's development. Research has shown that children who live or go to school near airstrips develop language and other cognitive skills more slowly than children who live in a quiet environment.

Children who are exposed to the noise of engines and machines due to the secretion of stress hormones find it difficult to focus on ordinary speech.

How to mitigate the harmful impact of noise:

Application of earplugs: if you are unable to move away from the noise, the first aid can be ordinary earplugs. This will significantly reduce the decibels you are exposed to and help you concentrate on work and other activities. Also, if you are working on a noisy construction site or mowing grass, wear ear protection.

Limited listening (of music and other things) at low volume: turn down the volume and limit the time of what you listen to, especially if you're using headphones.

Placing furniture against the wall: furniture, couch or sofa, or place the bookshelf against the wall where the noise is coming from. They will absorb some of those sound waves. Also, install some slightly heavier curtains as they also dampen sounds.

Going to a quiet place: if you or your family are regularly exposed to noise and you are unable to move, try to set aside at least some time during the day to stay in a quiet park or in nature.