5 medical complications associated to Noise
Noise above 85 decibels is a ticking time bomb. 85 decibels is equivalent to a heavy traffic noise, if it gets higher than that, it becomes a health hazard. If you are constantly exposed to loud noise, its only a matter of time before you develop complications.
As much as sensitivity to noise differs from one person to the next, there is a standard noise exposure level. For instance, if you are used to listening to noise above 100 decibels for more than two minutes, you are likely to damage your ear nerves, developing complications associated with noise.
Below we outline some medical complications associated to noise;
- Tinnitus
This is constant ringing sound in the ears, especially after being exposed to loud noises. It is common to people working in night clubs or operating loud machinery. According to the Australian Tinnitus Association, 18% of Australians are affected at some point in their lives.
While Tinnitus in itself is not a disease, it is a symptom of a much bigger problem. It is believed to signify the growth of a tumor in the ear or damage to the eardrum.
- Migraines
People in noisy areas develop migraines that last a lifetime. Damage to the inner ear nerves makes it sensitive to noises. Loud noise will trigger a headache.
- High blood pressure, heart failure and stroke
High noise levels can trigger overproduction of stress hormones such as, adrenaline, cortisol and nor adrenaline. This can induce heart failure, high blood pressure, and even stroke. According to a review published on the US. Library of science journal, noise is a bad influence that can result to serious health problems.
- Cardiovascular problems
A study published in the 2007 issue of Science of the Total Environment, showed increased cardiovascular disease complications associated with noise. The study revealed an 80% risk increase among women who said they were sensitive to noise. These complications ranged from minor colds and flu to Asthma and pneumonia. This and many other studies, make noise as a contributing factor to cardiovascular diseases.
- Chronic fatigue
Noise can contribute to fatigue in 3 ways;
- Noise causes body over stimulation causing over working of body cells
- Noise can affect relaxation and sleep patterns leading to tiredness.
- Noise can affect acoustic information making a simple task more complicated to perform.
The best way of avoiding complications associated with noise is to minimise sound levels. A much easier way of identifying noise that is too loud, is if you have to shout or raise your voice to be heard.
Also, if you are not sure about the noise at work contact our friendly sales team on 1300 889 289 or sales@anitechgroup.com to have a chat.
At Anitech we can provide all the tools necessary to prevent noise pollution at the workplace or at home. Feel free to check out our website for details and avoid all these complications associated with noise.
Reference
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/workplace-safety-noise-pollution