The Full Impact of Noise on Your Health

Noise, an unavoidable disturbance in our daily lives, poses a potential threat to our health. Let's explore the answers.

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1. Impact of Noise on the Ears

The discomfort caused by loud noise, including tinnitus, earache, and hearing loss, is well known. Clinical data shows that prolonged exposure to noise levels above 80 decibels increases the risk of deafness by as much as 50%. Even more shocking, medical experts have found that household noise is a major cause of deafness and muteness in children.

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2. Impact of Noise on Work Productivity and Cardiovascular Health

2.1 > Decreased Work Productivity
When noise levels exceed 85 decibels, people become distracted and unable to concentrate, leading to decreased work productivity.

2.2 > Cardiovascular Health Risks
Noise is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It can accelerate heart aging and increase the incidence of myocardial infarction. Medical research shows that long-term exposure to noise increases adrenal secretion, which in turn raises blood pressure. People exposed to an average noise level of 70 decibels for a long period of time may have an approximately 30% increased risk of myocardial infarction, with the impact of noise being particularly pronounced at night. Furthermore, residents living near highways and textile workers exposed to noise levels reaching 100 decibels also experience a significant increase in hypertension.

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3. Impact of Noise on the Mental and Endocrine Systems

3.1 > Nervous System and Mental Health
Noise can have adverse effects on the nervous system and mental health, potentially leading to increased accident rates. People working in high-noise environments often experience symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, insomnia, and frequent dreams, along with general fatigue and memory loss. It can even lead to mental disorders such as fear, irritability, feelings of inferiority, and even psychosis. In Japan, there have been tragic cases of individuals suffering from mental illness and ultimately committing suicide due to intolerable train noise.

3.2 > Impact on Women's Physiology
The harmful effects of noise on women's physiology cannot be ignored. Long-term exposure to noise can put women at risk for irregular menstruation, miscarriage, and premature birth. Experts conducted a three-year systematic investigation in seven regions, including Harbin, Beijing, and Changchun, revealing that noise not only damages the hearing of female workers, leading to noise-induced deafness, but also negatively impacts menstruation and fertility. Furthermore, noise can even cause miscarriage, premature birth, and fetal malformations. In the past, miscarriage and premature birth were common among pregnant women in a certain region. The investigation found that this was primarily due to the excessive noise generated by aircraft taking off and landing.

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4. Impact of Noise on Rest and Children

4.1 > Sleep Disruption
Noise seriously disrupts rest and sleep, which are crucial for relieving fatigue, restoring strength, and maintaining health. Noise makes it difficult for people to find peace of mind, preventing them from resting and falling asleep. When noise prevents people from falling asleep, they often experience increased anxiety, increased breathing and pulse rate, and a constant level of brain activity. This can directly affect their performance at work and study the next day. Over time, it can even lead to neurasthenia, manifesting as insomnia, tinnitus, and fatigue.

4.2 > Health Risks to Children
Noise poses even more serious risks to children. Because their organs are not yet fully developed, they are more susceptible to noise damage than adults. Whether it's a fetus or a newborn, noise can damage their hearing organs, leading to hearing loss or even loss. According to statistics, there are over 70 million people suffering from hearing loss worldwide, a large proportion of whom are attributable to noise. Expert research confirms that indoor noise is one of the main causes of hearing loss in children. Exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels can increase the incidence of deafness to as high as 5%.

5. Impact of Noise on Vision and Mental Health

5.1 > Vision Damage
Noise's adverse effects on vision. It's commonly believed that noise only damages hearing, but it also poses a threat to vision. Research shows that when noise levels reach 90 decibels, the sensitivity of human visual cells decreases, and the time it takes to detect dim light is prolonged. When noise levels rise further to 95 decibels, 40% of people experience dilated pupils and blurred vision. When noise levels reach 115 decibels, most people's eyes' ability to adapt to light brightness decreases. Therefore, people exposed to prolonged noise exposure are prone to eye damage, including eye fatigue, eye pain, dizziness, and tearing. Furthermore, noise can cause changes in color vision and visual field. Studies show that noise can reduce red, blue, and white visual fields by 80%. Drivers should be particularly vigilant against noise interference from stereo speakers to avoid accidents.

5.2 > Psychological Impact

Noise's Psychological Impact. Noise levels exceeding 90 decibels can damage hearing; above 70 decibels, people cannot function normally; and above 50 decibels, people have difficulty sleeping.

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6. Impact of Noise on the Digestive System

Noise's Impact on the Digestive System. Noise affects the central nervous system, leading to changes in the secretory and motility functions of the gastrointestinal system. These changes can disrupt metabolic processes, leading to imbalances in the metabolism of vitamins, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and inorganic salts. The specific manifestations are a decrease in gastric juice secretion, a slowdown in intestinal motility, a decrease in appetite, and even symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.