Shownotes Transcript
Shut up and thrive? Why seeking out silence could improve your health
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Shut up and thrive? Why seeking out silence could improve your health
If too much noise is too much, yet we struggle to sit with too little, where is the sweet spot?
If you’re the type to scoff at the notion of a silent retreat, it might be time for a rethink. According to research by the World Health Organisation, the levels and amount of noise we are bombarded with on a daily basis are harming our health. It’s a warning backed up by a 2020 report which found that one in five people are exposed to noise levels considered detrimental to their health. Experts now believe adequate periods of silence are key to optimal health. In his book Silence: In the Age of Noise, Norwegian explorer Erling Kagge even dubs silence the “new luxury”.
While excessive noise can place a burden on our mental health, the impacts can also be physical, manifesting in issues such as increased heart rate, poorer heart health, cognition issues and blood pressure. One long-term study in Canada found that continuous traffic noise accounted for an increased risk of diabetes and high blood pressure in participants. While we know that noise pollution can increase the risk of behavioural issues in children and adolescents, it’s now suggested that constant noise for adults can activate the body’s stress response, causing a cascade of stress hormones like cortisol to flood the body. If you’re already under pressure and feeling stressed, this only exacerbates the problem and creates a vicious cycle. One study carried out on people living in multi-storey housing in Denmark highlighted the physical stress-response that can be triggered as a result of environmental noise exposure, while another study outlined a link between living with constant noise from aircraft and railway tracks and depression.