When you were a kid you most likely had no idea that turning up the volume on your music could lead to health problems. You were just having a good time listening to your tunes.
As you got older, you may have indulged in evenings out at loud movies and concerts. It might even be normal for you to have experienced loud noise at work. Still, you didn’t think it had any lasting effects.
You probably know differently today. Noise-induced hearing loss can show up in children as young as 12. But did you know that sound is so powerful that it can even be used as a weapon?
Can You Get Ill From Sound?
Actually, it Can. Particular sounds can evidently make you sick according to scientists and doctors. This is why.
How Health is Affected by Loud Noise
The inner ear can be harmed by very loud sounds. You have little hairs that detect +
vibrations after they go through the eardrum membrane. These hairs never regenerate once they are destroyed. This is what causes the sensorineural hearing loss that many people deal with as they age.
Over 85 dB of volume for an 8 hour period will begin to cause permanent damage. It only takes 15 minutes for permanent damage to develop at 100 dB. A rock concert is about 120 decibels, which causes instantaneous, permanent harm.
Noises can also impact cardiovascular wellness. Obesity, high blood pressure, clogged arteries, and other vascular problems can be the outcome of increased stress hormones induced by overly loud noise. So when individuals who are exposed to loud noise complain about headaches and memory loss, this may explain why. Cardiovascular health is directly related to these symptoms.
Sound as low as 45 decibels can, as reported by one study, begin to affect your hormones and your heart. That’s about the volume of a person with a quiet indoor voice.
Your Health is Impacted by Certain Sound Frequencies – Here’s How
Cuban diplomats became sick after being subjected to certain sounds a few years ago. This sound was not at a really loud volume. It could even be blocked out by a television. So how could this type of sound cause people to get sick?
Frequency is the answer.
High Frequency
High frequency sounds such as the one experienced in Cuba can do appreciable damage at lower volumes.
Does the sound of nails on a chalkboard cause you to cringe? Have you been driven nuts by somebody repeatedly dragging their finger over 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-pitched sound. The damage could have become irreversible if you’ve exposed yourself to this kind of sound repeatedly for longer periods of time.
Studies have also found that you don’t even need to be able to hear the sound. Harmful frequencies can come from many common devices such as sensors, trains, machinery, etc.
Low Frequency
Very low-frequency sound called “infrasound” can also affect your health. The vibrations can make you feel dizzy and physically sick. Some even get flashes of light and color that are common in migraine sufferers.
How You Can Safeguard Your Hearing
Recognize how specific sounds make you feel. Limit your exposure if certain sounds make you feel pain or other symptoms. Pain is typically a warning sign of damage.
Have your hearing checked regularly by a hearing specialist to understand how your hearing could be changing over time.