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Health Effects of Noise

Noise is everywhere around us and the health effects of noise are beginning to gain some attention. Whatever you can do to reduce noise in your home will benefit your health.

Research has shown the health effects of noise to be significant. Exposure to loud sounds every once in a while has little effect on your hearing. It’s the constant long-term exposure that adds up and causes health problems.

One study showed even everyday noise, such as cell phones ringing and loud conversation, can cause health problems. The study showed your heart rate can increase with even these minor sources of noise. In addition to that, the time interval between beats is decreased. This increases the risk of heart attack. Such is the power of the health effects of noise.

Other research and clinical practice has shown high blood pressure, heart disease, and sleep disturbance to come with high levels of noise, also. You could find yourself more likely to develop infections and catch whatever bug is going around, too. Some birth defects have been linked to high levels of noise.

Some loss of hearing as you get older is natural. But with the increased use of personal listening devices that allow you and your children to play music at high levels, hearing loss is increasing. The same is true of tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. Some of this is normal with age, also, but can be increased and made permanent earlier in life because of exposure to high noise levels.

The health effects of noise also affect children’s learning. American children are experiencing hearing problems more and more. Estimates in 2001 were that 12.5% of children in school in the U.S. had hearing problems in one or both ears. The use of personal listening devices may be the culprit. These devices are not regulated, leading to higher noise levels than are healthy. There are manufacturers’ warnings, but these aren’t often heeded.

Good, uninterrupted sleep is necessary for good functioning. When sleep is interrupted because of noise, it leads to poor performance on the job and in school. Noise in the environment is the leading cause of lost sleep.

When loss of sleep becomes chronic, lower functioning also becomes chronic. Mood changes can occur, and other long-term bad effects on health come about.

One way to improve your health is to improve the insulation in your living environment. One of the best, if not the best, insulators is spray foam.

Spray foam is not usually a do-it-yourself operation. Professional installation is best. Not just from the application aspect, but also from safety for you and your family. For the best spray foam insulation, contact Weathertight Spray Foam in Gilford, NH. It is one of the best in the area. Contact them at 603-343-3266 to schedule an appointment to discuss their services. They can help you decide not only whether you have sufficient insulation to decrease noise, but also the best kind to put in.