

Sound machine to block out noise how to#
How To Soundproof from Traffic Noise for Better Sleep The organization estimates that traffic-related noises account for 1 million years of life lost due to the long-term exposure which can result in illness, disability, and even death. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes traffic noise is one of the biggest threats to public health, ranking second behind air pollution. With the number of people living in cities expected to increase, the effects of traffic noise have become a major concern. The results revealed that those who lived close to airports and noisy areas took more sleeping pills, were more prone to minor accidents, experienced frequent headaches, and were overall more likely to seek psychiatric treatment. One particular study compared the health of individuals who lived close to airports and major intersections to individuals who lived in quieter areas and suburban neighborhoods. Several studies have correlated traffic noises to impaired memory and creativity, impaired judgement, reduced coordination, weakened psychomotor skills, tinnitus and hearing loss. Over time these effects can result in hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and many other long-term effects. Traffic Noises Affect Your HealthĬontinuous noise can further trigger the body’s stress response leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure. This is why it’s important to soundproof against traffic noise coming into your room, so that you can get better quality sleep. If traffic noise is continuously disrupting your sleep, that can negatively impact your health. Those responses and the noise itself cause small interruptions in our sleep pattern that can result in restlessness and fatigue.Ĭonsequences of sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality can include: The brain takes these sounds and interprets them in different ways which can trigger a variety of sensory responses. Environmental noises are constantly being processed by the brain. How these noises affect overall sleep quality, even when we have become acclimated to them, depends on your sleep stage, time of the night, and how you perceive a particular sound. Loud noises can wake you, particularly stressful sounds that represent danger such as a car horn or the sound of an ambulance. Stressful Traffic Noises Decrease Your Sleep Quality Don’t make my mistakes, educate yourself on soundproofing so you can live and sleep better. I always wish I had known about white noise machines and soundproof curtains when I lived there, but fortunately I live currently live in a quiet neighborhood. The constant noise was super distracting and disturbing especially when I was studying or trying to fall asleep. It was also right across the street from a construction site, so I got to get woken up by cars honking AND bulldozers driving around. I used to live on the first floor of my apartment complex with my bedroom window facing a busy street. Learn More: Hacks for a Quality Sleep Setup Life with Traffic Noise Even if you have become acclimated to some of these sounds, chances are your sleep is still affected. If you live in the city, close to an intersection or highway, you are probably very familiar with the plethora of traffic noises that can interfere with your sleep and keep you up at night.
