How Noise Pollution Might Cause Increased Stress Levels

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses of Noise PollutionNegative Effects of NoiseHow to Limit the NoiseReplace Stressful Sounds With Pleasing SoundsSafeguard Your Health From Noise Pollution

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes of Noise Pollution

Negative Effects of Noise

How to Limit the Noise

Replace Stressful Sounds With Pleasing Sounds

Safeguard Your Health From Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is any intrusive noise that disrupts, distracts, or detracts from regular functioning. While we often think of noise pollution as a problem of big cities, with the competing sounds of more people in a smaller space, noise pollution can also be found in suburban neighborhoods (in the form of leaf blowers, lawnmowers, and home construction) and even individual homes and workplaces.

And there is a great deal of scientific research to show that noise causes stress and can have a negative impact on your health and productivity.Chronic stress from noise pollution can cause elevated blood pressure, impaired cognitive functioning, and more.

There are a number of ways modern society contributes to noise pollution, and it seems increasingly difficult to lead more quiet lives, but with the right strategies it can be possible to limit the noise.

While there are many different sources of noise pollution, these, in particular, have been found to have a negative impact on health.

Airplanes

Noise pollution from airplanes has a significant negative impact on the health and well-being of those who live close to airports. This can include heart disease, high blood pressure, and elevated stress hormones, as well as sleep disruption.

Traffic

One of the complaints of those who live in big cities or on busy streets is the disruption from the sounds of traffic. Interestingly, though, even low levels of traffic noise can be damaging. Traffic noise is one of the most commonly experienced sources of noise pollution, and research has tied it to depressive symptoms along with cardiovascular and respiratory-related deaths.

Workplace Noise

Most of us may think of loud assembly lines or construction sites when we think of noise pollution in the workplace, and while these examples definitely apply, regular offices are not immune. With more people packed into busy office spaces, office noise is a common complaint. Co-workers who talk, drum their fingers on the desk, or offer other distracting noises can decrease the productivity of those around them without realizing it.

Home Sounds

Your first line of defense against noise pollution is to do what you can to control your environment, and limit the noise that enters your space. The following are ways that you can limit environmental noise and blunt the effects of noise pollution:

For example, you can reduce the impact of airport or city noise with a white noise machine or sound spa. They play sounds ranging from waterfalls to rain to babbling brooks to basic static, and these sounds mask the more jarring environmental noises that can distract you or negativelyaffect your sleep. They can also make it easier tomeditateor practicevisualization techniques.

Additionally, you can drown out distracting sounds from a noisy office environment or neighborhood with music from your phone or computer and a set of noise-canceling headphones. By doing this, you can enjoy the stress management and healthbenefits of musicwhile lessening the impact of the other noise. This can also improve your mood, boost yourimmunity, calm your physiology, or energize you.

While you’re really trading some sounds for others, the sounds of nature or music can be more soothing and better for your health.

Some of the most effective techniques you can use include:

Modern society is here to stay, and with it comes plenty of noise, but with the right plan of action you will be able to find your calm in the middle of any storm, no matter how loud.

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Correia AW, Peters JL, Levy JI, Melly S, Dominici F.Residential exposure to aircraft noise and hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases: multi-airport retrospective study.BMJ. 2013;347:f5561. doi:10.1136/bmj.f5561

Schmidt FP, Basner M, Kröger G, et al.Effect of nighttime aircraft noise exposure on endothelial function and stress hormone release in healthy adults.Eur Heart J.2013;34(45):3508-3514a. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/eht269

Kim SJ, Chai SK, Lee KW, et al.Exposure-Response Relationship Between Aircraft Noise and Sleep Quality: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study.Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2014;5(2):108-114. doi:10.1016/j.phrp.2014.03.004

Tobías A, Recio A, Díaz J, Linares C.Health impact assessment of traffic noise in Madrid (Spain).Environ Res. 2015;(137):136-140. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2014.12.011

McMillan BTM, Saffran JR.Learning in Complex Environments: The Effects of Background Speech on Early Word Learning.Child Development.2016;87(6):1841-1855. doi:10.1111/cdev.12559

Klatte M, Bergström K, Lachmann T.Does noise affect learning? A short review on noise effects on cognitive performance in children.Front Psychol.2013;4:578. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00578

Münzel T, Sørensen M, Schmidt F, et al.The Adverse Effects of Environmental Noise Exposure on Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Risk.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2018;28(9):873-908. doi:10.1089/ars.2017.7118

Prasher D.Is there evidence that environmental noise is immunotoxic?Noise Health. 2009;11(44):151-155. doi:10.4103/1463-1741.53361

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Airplanes#

Traffic#

Workplace Noise#

Home Sounds#

Airplanes

Traffic

Workplace Noise

Home Sounds