Carolanne Wright of Wake Up World writes:
In this day and age, we’d be hard-pressed to find a few moments without the cacophony of modern life swirling around us. With 24/7 access to television, streaming video, radio and all sorts of digital music, we might not give a second thought to the constant audio bombardment. Nor do we typically notice the day-to-day chatter from our coworkers, friends and families. Then there’s the constant buzz of lawnmowers, highways, trains, planes and automobiles. But science is finding that “noise pollution” may very well dumb us down, compromise health and dramatically increase stress and the accompanying hormones — unfortunately, this last bit can lead to weight-gain and heart disease. Even low levels of noise can trigger a cascade of undesirable effects. It’s enough to drive one mad — literally.
In a world where noise is a given and rarely a choice, silence sells because it’s so uncommon. Finland has built a tourist industry around it by marketing silence as a resource, with catchy country branding like “Silence, Please” and “No talking, but action.” Finnish watch maker Rönkkö has also taken up the torch by proclaiming their products are “Handmade in Finnish silence.” In the quest for ever elusive quiet, people will shell out hundreds of dollars for noise-canceling headphones or pay into the thousands for silent meditation retreats. Beyond simply being a rare commodity, scientists are proving what we already know on an intuitive level — periods of silence are good for the body, mind and soul. But it’s only recently been discovered how crucial peace and quiet really is for our well-being.
A clamorous world is an unhealthy one
The translation for the Latin root “noise” is nausea or pain — which is exactly what happens when we are exposed to loud environments, especially if we are sensitive to sound to begin with. When noise becomes a chronic problem, our health ultimately suffers.
Writes Daniel A. Gross in This Is Your Brain on Silence:
“Studies of human physiology help explain how an invisible phenomenon can have such a pronounced physical effect. Sound waves vibrate the bones of the ear, which transmit movement to the snail-shaped cochlea. The cochlea converts physical vibrations into electrical signals that the brain receives. The body reacts immediately and powerfully to these signals, even in the middle of deep sleep. Neurophysiological research suggests that noises first activate the amygdalae, clusters of neurons located in the temporal lobes of the brain, associated with memory formation and emotion. The activation prompts an immediate release of stress hormones like cortisol. People who live in consistently loud environments often experience chronically elevated levels of stress hormones.”
Read more HERE
About the Author
Carolanne Wright enthusiastically believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, natural foods chef and wellness coach, Carolanne has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of organic living, gratefulness and joyful orientation for over 13 years. Through her website, Thrive Living, she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people from around the world who share a similar vision. You can follow Carolanne at www.Thrive-Living.net or look for Thrive Living on Facebook and Twitter.