When you were a kid you probably had no clue that turning the volume up on your music could result in health issues. You just enjoyed the music.
You had fun 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. Long term 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 permanent noise-induced hearing loss. But sound is so powerful it can actually be used as a weapon.
Can You Get Ill From Sound?
In short, yes. It’s apparent to doctors and scientists alike that certain sound can make you sick. This is the reason why.
How Loud Sound Impacts Health
The inner ear can be harmed by really loud sounds. You have little hairs that pick up +
vibrations after they pass through the membrane of the eardrum. These hairs never regenerate once they are destroyed. Many people, as they age, deal with sensorineural hearing loss caused by this.
Over 85 dB of volume for an 8 hour period of time will start to cause permanent impairment. It only takes 15 minutes for lasting damage to set in at 100 dB. A loud concert is about 120 decibels, which causes instantaneous, permanent damage.
Cardiovascular health can also be affected by noise. Exposure to loud sounds can increase stress hormones, which can lead to High blood pressure, clogged arteries, obesity, and more. This may explain the headaches and memory issues that people subjected to loud noise complain about. Cardiovascular health is strongly linked to these symptoms.
As a matter of fact, one study revealed that sound volumes that begin to impact the heart, and hormones are as low a 45 decibels. That’s roughly the volume of somebody with a quiet inside voice.
Your Health is Impacted by Certain Sound Frequencies – Here’s How
Cuban diplomats got sick after being exposed to certain sounds several years ago. The sound in Cuba wasn’t very loud. It could even be drowned out by a television. How might it have been able to make people ill?
The answer is frequency.
High Frequency
Even at lower volumes, considerable harm can be done by certain high-frequency sound.
Have you ever cringed when somebody scraped their nails on a chalkboard? Have you ever pleaded with a co-worker to stop as they press their fingers over a folded piece of paper? Does the shrill sound of a violin put you on edge?
Damage was being done to your hearing if you’ve ever experienced pain from high-pitched sound. If you endured this for an extended period of time, frequently exposed yourself to it, or were exposed at a high volume, then the damage may have become permanent.
Research has also discovered that damage can happen even if you can’t hear the sound. High-pitched sounds emanating from sensors, trains, machinery, and other man-made devices could be producing frequencies that do damage with sustained exposure.
Low Frequency
Extremely low-frequency sound known as “infrasound” can also impact your health. The vibrations can make you feel dizzy and physically sick. Some even experience flashes of light and color that are common in migraine sufferers.
Safeguarding Your Hearing
Be mindful of how you feel about certain sounds. Reduce your exposure if specific sounds make you feel pain or other symptoms. If you’re feeling pain in your ears, you’re probably doing damage.
In order to know how your hearing could be changing over time, contact a hearing specialist for an examination.
The content of this blog is the intellectual property of MedPB.com and is reprinted here with permission.
The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive a personalized free hearing test and hearing loss consultation, call today to set up an appointment.
