When you were younger you probably had no clue that cranking the volume up on your music could result in health problems. You were just having a good time listening to your tunes.
You had a good time when you were growing up, going to loud concerts and movies. You might have even chosen a job where loud noise is the norm. Lasting health problems were the furthest thing from your mind.
Now that you are older and more mature, you probably know better. Children as young as 12 can have lasting noise-induced hearing impairment. But did you realize that sound is so formidable that it can even be used as a weapon?
Can You Get Sick From Sound?
Actually, it Can. Certain sounds can evidently make you sick according to scientists and doctors. This is the reason why.
How Health is Impacted by Loud Noise
Really loud sounds harm the inner ear. You have tiny hairs that pick up +
vibrations after they pass through the eardrum membrane. These hairs never grow back once they are damaged. Many people, as they age, deal with sensorineural hearing loss caused by this.
Over 85 dB of volume for an 8 hour period will begin to cause long-term impairment. It only takes 15 minutes for long-term damage to occur at 100 dB. A rock concert is around 120 decibels, which causes immediate, irreversible harm.
Cardiovascular wellness can also be affected by noise. Obesity, high blood pressure, clogged arteries, and other vascular issues can be the outcome of increased stress hormones brought on by overly loud noise. So when people who are exposed to loud noise complain about headaches and memory loss, this could explain why. Cardiovascular health is directly related to these symptoms.
Sound as low as 45 decibels can, according to one study, begin to impact your hormones and your heart. A person talking with a quiet indoor voice is at this volume level.
Your Health is Affected by Some Sound Frequencies – Here’s How
Cuban diplomats got sick after being exposed to certain sounds a few years ago. The sound in Cuba wasn’t that loud. They could block it out with a tv. How could it have made people sick?
The answer is frequency.
High Frequency
High frequency sounds such as the one experienced in Cuba can do considerable harm at lower volumes.
Does the sound of nails on a chalkboard make you cringe? Have you been driven nuts by someone continuously dragging their finger across a folded piece of paper? Does the shrill sound of a violin put you on edge?
Damage was happening to your hearing if you’ve ever felt pain from high-frequency sound. If you experienced this for a time, frequently subjected yourself to it, or were exposed at a high volume, then the damage might have become permanent.
Research has also discovered that damage can be done even if you can’t hear the sound. Harmful frequencies can come from many common devices such as machinery, trains, sensors, etc.
Low Frequency
Your health can also be affected by infrasound which is really low frequency sound. The vibrations can make you feel disoriented and physically ill. Some even experience flashes of color and light that are common in migraine sufferers.
Protecting Your Hearing
Know how specific sounds make you feel. If you’re feeling pain or other symptoms when you’re exposed to certain sounds, limit your exposure. Pain is commonly a warning sign of damage.
Have your hearing examined regularly by a hearing specialist to understand how your hearing may be changing over time.