When you were 16 and turned up the radio to full volume, you weren’t thinking about how this might harm your health. You were simply having a good time listening to your tunes.
You had a good time when you were growing up, going to the movies and loud concerts. It might even be normal for you to have experienced loud noise at work. Still, you didn’t think it had any long-term effects.
Now that you’re older and more mature, you probably know better. Noise-induced hearing loss can appear in children as young as 12. But did you realize that sound is so powerful that it can even be used as a weapon?
Can You Get Sick From Sound?
Actually, it Can. Certain sounds can evidently cause you to get ill according to scientists and doctors. This is why.
How Loud Sound Affects Health
The inner ear can be harmed by extremely loud sounds. You have little hairs that detect +
vibrations after they pass through the membrane of the eardrum. Once these little hairs are damaged, they don’t ever grow back or heal. Many people, as they age, deal with sensorineural hearing loss caused by this.
Harmful volume begins at 85 decibels over an 8 hour time frame. It only takes 15 minutes for long-term damage to set in at 100 dB. A rock concert is around 120 decibels, which triggers instantaneous, permanent harm.
Cardiovascular wellness can also be affected by noise. Exposure to loud noise can increase stress hormones, which can lead to clogged arteries, obesity, high blood pressure, and more. So when individuals who are subjected to loud noise complain about memory loss and headaches, this may explain why. These are strongly connected to cardiovascular health.
Actually, one study confirmed that sound volumes that start to impact the heart, and hormones are as low a 45 decibels. That’s approximately the volume of somebody with a quiet inside voice.
Your Health is Affected by Certain Sound Frequencies – Here’s How
Several years ago, diplomats in Cuba got sick when subjected to sounds. This sound wasn’t at a really loud volume. They were able to block it out with a tv. How might it have been able to make people sick?
Frequency is the answer.
High Frequency
Even at lower volumes, appreciable harm can be done by some high-frequency sound.
Have you ever cringed when somebody scratched their nails on a chalkboard? Have you ever pleaded with a co-worker to stop as they run their fingers over a folded piece of paper? Have you ever had to plug your ears during a violin recital?
Damage was being done to your hearing if you’ve ever experienced pain from high-frequency sound. The damage may have become permanent if you’ve subjected yourself to this kind of sound repeatedly for longer periods of time.
Studies have also found that you don’t even have to be able to hear the sound. High-pitched sounds emanating from trains, sensors, machinery, and other man-made devices might be producing frequencies that do damage with prolonged exposure.
Low Frequency
Extremely low-frequency sound called “infrasound” can also impact your health. The vibrations can make you feel disoriented and physically ill. Some even experience flashes of light and color that are typical in migraine sufferers.
Safeguarding Your Hearing
Recognize how particular sounds make you feel. If you’re feeling pain or other symptoms when you’re around certain sounds, reduce your exposure. If you’re experiencing pain in your ears, you’re probably doing damage.
In order to know how your hearing might be changing over time, get in touch with a hearing specialist for a hearing test.