collaborative post | Sleep is the most important factor that keeps a person healthy and active, and now people have started to prefer investing in everything that supports getting a good quality of sleep, including supportive mattresses, fabric bed frames and blackout curtains to create a relaxing zone.
There are many factors that can disturb our sleep cycle; one factor that is often overlooked is noise. It has a worse impact on the quality of sleep and is a silent cause of many physical and mental diseases. Therefore, the sleeping place should be designed to minimise the noise and to provide quality sleep.
Noise: An Unseen Sleep Disruptor
Mostly, people sleep even in the noise, and it seems like it has not affected them. There are studies that show that the brain continues to process all the information it gets from watching and hearing voices. It is a fact that people can remain asleep in the noise, but it can affect them psychologically in many ways, including:
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Increased heart rate
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Change in breathing patterns
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Shift between sleep stages
WHO raised that the noise is included in major health concerns, especially where traffic is high, near railways and other places where more sources of disturbance are present. It can affect people without making them recognise the reason for their health issues.
Impact Of Noise On Sleep
There are several stages of sleep, including light sleep, deeper light sleep, deep sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. When we live in a noisy environment, it can interrupt this natural restoration.
Reduced Deep Sleep
This stage of sleep is considered a remedy to recover mentally and physically and can support immunity. Environmental noise can reduce the time of deep sleep, and people cannot feel fully refreshed when they awake.
Disrupted REM Sleep
Research proved that rapid eye movement can enhance learning, emotional processing and memory. Frequent noise disturbs this stage of sleep and eventually affects the brain’s ability to perform these functions.
Sleep fragmentation
Micro-awakening often happens during sleep, even if the person doesn’t fully wake up, but it lasts a few seconds. Noise pollution can increase the time and reduce the overall quality of sleep.
Research Insights About Noise & Sleep
Researchers studied the effect of noise on sleep and demonstrated the relationship between them. If the exposure to the traffic noise exceeds its limit at night, it can affect restful sleep. European researchers also found that people living near the airport or railway stations can experience more micro-awakenings during sleep.
In Asia, rapid urbanisation is a major factor in increasing environmental noise because of the increasing population, and it can lower sleep satisfaction.
Australian researchers have also emphasised the increasing impact of transportation noise on sleep quality. The major reason is the expansion of urban sectors. All these findings highlighted that sleep disruption has become a global problem.
Health Impact Due To Inadequate Sleep
Constant inadequate sleep not only causes tiredness for the next day, but also has an impact on the well-being of a person and leads to severe diseases.
Anxiety & Stress
Psychological diseases are basically due to a disturbed mind, and a restful sleep can cure them. If sleep is interrupted by noise pollution, the body shows a response by activating the anxiety and the person becomes emotionally exhausted.
Cardiovascular Diseases
Non-restorative sleep causes stress, and often it leads to high blood pressure and makes it harder to handle emotions. Many international studies have found that noise pollution is linked with poor sleep and causes different diseases, including heart issues.
Lower Cognitive Performance
Inadequate sleep can affect:
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Memory retention
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Decision-making
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Problem solving
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Productive at work
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Academic performance
Common Sources Of Noise At Night
We should understand the factors that negatively impact our sleep. Common sources are:
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Road traffic and motorways
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Aircraft and airports
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Railway networks
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Construction activity
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Household appliances
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Heating and ventilation systems
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Loud neighbours
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Pets and outdoor animals
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Entertainment devices and televisions
There are some factors that cannot be avoided, but awareness can help individuals to make some essential choices for improving their sleep.
Making A Quieter Bedroom For Restful Sleep
If a bedroom is designed properly and well organised, it can help reduce the noise pollution inside the room, which supports deeper sleep.
Use Sound Absorbing Materials
Soft material makes the room look cosy. Rugs and curtains can maintain a trendy look. Cushions can make the room look more comfortable. Upholstered furniture items can help to reduce the impact of noise.
Select Furniture Focused On Comfort
Creating an atmosphere full of peace and comfort doesn’t only include an aesthetic look, but rather it includes every necessary item that supports maintaining it. People prefer buying fabric bed frames because they have an upholstered design and the softness and warmth they need.
