There is increasing evidence that long-term noise above a certain level can dramatically impact your health. These include both physical and mental disruptions and can even reduce your life expectancy.
In this blog, we explore three ways noise pollution can negatively influence your health.
In 2011 the World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report regarding the effect noise pollution can have on your health. The findings discovered that at least one million healthy years of life are lost each year in Europe because of high levels of noise. WHO concluded that ‘there is overwhelming evidence that exposure to environmental noise has adverse effects on the health of the population’. We have listed three ways noise can affect your health, but there are many, many more.
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Hearing loss
Hearing loss is one of the more obvious side effects of noise pollution and it can be extremely harmful to your health. Hearing loss is usually associated with getting older, but exposure to harmful noise can happen at any age. Hearing loss can also lead to tinnitus, which can cause varying levels of whistling or ringing even if there is no external sound.
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Sleep deprivation
High levels of noise can have a major effect on your sleep and, if you’re someone who wakes up easily, the effects of noise can be even more detrimental. This is why construction site workers are only allowed to work during certain hours of the day. A lack of sleep can cause all manner of problems including drowsiness, reduced cognitive function and irritability.
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Heart problems
Loud noises can trigger a stress response in the base of your brain. This releases several hormones which can cause your arteries to narrow which in turn increases your blood pressure as well as makes your blood more likely to clot. These factors can lead to an increased risk of heart problems. One study looked at Heathrow Airport’s noise pollution and found that high levels of aircraft noise is associated with various heart problems as well as strokes. These health concerns can be the cause of worry for anyone who might be experiencing noise pollution on a regular basis. At Echo Barrier, reducing sound is at the forefront of what we do and our award-winning acoustic barriers have been used in a variety of industries including construction and live music events. It is our ethos to reduce noise and help protect workers and the surrounding community, it should be yours too.
