Noise Effect on the Heart
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Noise to An Electrical Engineer
Everything and anything in excess are bad, so is the noise factor on the human body. These unwanted disturbances as I choose to define it in an Electronics Engineering perspective are of varying features. The noise audible to man and the ones only sophisticated gadgets could pick up and read as signals, either way; this noise could be deadly to a healthy human host after long exposures.
Types
Thermal noise, inter-modulation noise, cross-talk interference, short noise, burst noise, transit-time noise, flicker noise are all noise types, and they could be further grouped into Extremely Loud Noise(ELN), Loud Noise(LN) and Extremely Low Noise. The hazardous ones to the human body are ELN and EL and that is what this article is all about coupled with its health implications.
Sound, Loud sound or Noise are measured in Decibels(dB) and any sound in the region of 85dB is harmful with long hours of exposure. Extremely Loud Noise and Loud Noise are mostly above 86db and people living near this areas; Airports, Major Highways, Railway tracks, Docks/Ports are exposed to ELN/LN and are at a greater risk of heart-related diseases aside from eardrums ruptures and blood vessels tears. Below is a table showing the different Noise levels measured in dB with examples of this Loud Noises.
| NOISE | IN AVERAGE (dB) |
|---|---|
| Leaves rustling, soft music, whisper | 30 |
| Average home noise | 40 |
| Normal conversation, background music | 60 |
| Office noise, inside car at 60 mph | 70 |
| Vacuum cleaner, average radio | 75 |
| Heavy traffic, window air conditioner, noisy restaurant, power lawn mower | 80-89 (sounds above 85 dB are harmful) |
| Subway, shouted conversation | 90-95 |
| Boom-Box, ATV, motorcycle | 96-100 |
| School dance | 101-105 |
| Chainsaw, leaf blower, snowmobile | 106-115 |
| Stadium/Sports crowd, rock concert, loud symphony | 120-129 |
| Stock car races | 130 |
| Gunshot, siren at 100 feet | 140 |
Table Source
Discussing the Impact of Noise on the Body
Studies have shown that people who are less exposed to noise are less stressed(provided other conditions being equal) have lower cholesterol levels, better immune responses and higher levels of antioxidants in the blood.
Noise all around us
Scientist and experts had researched and concluded that constant background noise raises the level of stress hormones to levels that are risky, this puts more burden on the blood vessels in the body which automatically damages cells; one of the many causes of strokes and heart attacks in humans.
American college of cardiology researchers stated in a journal after reviewing the studies on the connection between heart risk and Noise. Their findings were simple;
Increased noise raises the risk of stress and anxiety hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
This is the hormones for flight or fight mode of the body which in turn increases the pump rate of the heart and it spontaneously increases Blood pressures too. Sporadically, when this happens the strain on the blood vessels is increased which could cause a high risk of inflammation of the blood vessels and could cause clotting of the blood.
It has been proposed that chronic stress reactions by activation of the autonomic nervous system and increased levels of circulating cortisol may lead to vascular dysfunction-Johannes Gutenberg University Scientist in Mainz Germany
Road traffic noise is the commonest threat and the greatest noise pollution an average citizen is exposed to daily, other sources of Extremely Loud Noises are mostly not inhabited areas and workers in such vicinity make use of protective gears for safety precautions. Though airport and aircraft noise has increased in the last couple of decades due to the increase in air transportation all over the World.
This is one of the effects of urbanization and Technology, strategies for a much noiseless and safety technology are in development year in year out, which could be considered less hazardous to human.
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