5 ways to protect your hearing from loud noises

We lead noisy ... I SAID, WE LEAD NOISY LIVES! Loud sounds pound our eardrums every day: traffic, TV, earbuds, the phone, the neighbor's dog, the kids shooting fireworks even when

it's not July 4. And let's not forget all the nights spent leaning against the speakers at Aerosmith concerts back in the ‘70s. For the past 16 months or so, many of us have gotten

a respite from noise as the world slowed in response to the pandemic. But as life slowly revs back up this summer, it's a good time to stop and consider just what we stand to lose from

an increase in volume. Indeed, loud noise is more than just a threat to your hearing and your quality of life. New research suggests it can seriously damage your health. DECIBEL LEVELS *

Passenger jet: 106 dB*  * Kitchen blender: 88 dB  * Garbage truck: 100 dB  * Power mower: 90 dB  * Leaves rustling: 20dB  * Quiet conversation: 50dB  * Jackhammer: 100 dB  * Birds chirping:

44 dB  * Dog barking: 90 dB  * Motorcycle: 90 dB   _*Jet noise from 1 mile away_ NOISE AND DISEASE Daily noise exposure may figure significantly in your risk of severe stroke, according to a

recent study in the journal _Environmental Research. _Researchers found that living in a noisy area — like a city or next to a highway — increases your risk of severe stroke by 30 percent,

while living in a quiet, green area can reduce it by up to 25 percent. Here's how it works: An incessantly loud environment stimulates a part of the brain known as the amygdala, which

regulates stress response. The brain reacts by increasing blood pressure and levels of a stress-related hormone called cortisol; both are known to cause a host of cardiovascular issues,

including stroke, says Douglas M. Hildrew, M.D., medical director of the Yale Hearing and Balance Program. In fact, the American Heart Association warns of an increased risk of heart attack

for those who are regularly exposed to excessive noise, the kind found near airports and highways. Chronic stress is also a well-established contributor to deaths related to immune system

suppression, diabetes, arterial plaque buildup (atherosclerosis), psychiatric illness and possibly cancer.