A lot of people choose to live in the city for convenience. For some, living near the workplace will reduce the delay caused by traffic. For others, being near the cityscape allows them to have easy access to entertainment areas, dining establishments, shopping centers, and other public places.
While city living has its perks, it also has some disadvantages. In this article, we will look into the health risks of being exposed to the noise of the city. We will also get acquainted with soundproof windows with roller shades for some privacy, and how these home features can become your new best friends when it comes to cityproofing your house.
Why City Noise Is Unhealthy
Although some people cannot live without some level of ambient noise – which the cityscape can provide – there’s a risk of experiencing some health concerns due to long and frequent exposure to city noise. In a study, the World Health Organization listed some of the reasons why the noise of the city can be detrimental to your health, as published in its report entitled “Burden of disease from environmental noise”:
- Heart disease: This may be caused by prolonged exposure to noise, which some studies have linked to hypertension and cardiovascular issues.
- Cognitive development issues in kids: WHO discovered through a study that exposure to noise increases the risk of memory impairment and poor comprehension.
- High level of stress: Too much city noise can trigger negative feelings, which may cause a great deal of stress.
- Sleep disruption and deprivation: According to a study, ambient noise affects the quality of sleep, which can consequently lead to a wide array of health issues.
- Tinnitus: This hearing deficiency causes a person to hear a ringing or hissing sound even though it’s not really there.
These health issues may arise as a result of noise exposure. On top of these, other adverse effects of exposure to city noise include lower productivity, barrier in communication within the household, and lack of peace and quiet in the home.
Cityproofing Your Home With Soundproof Windows
Now that you’ve recognized that city noise may cause some serious health risks, you need to know how to address this. Some studies have recommended strategies to reduce the health effects of noise, but one of the quickest ways to do this is to use soundproof windows.
Some of the best examples of soundproof home window installation include sound-proof sash windows, which are made of moving panels that constitute the window frame that holds the glass panes. As you can imagine, there are also different levels of quality and thickness when it comes to these glass panes which can further the soundproofing and weather protection as well.
In the same way that noise-cancelling headphones can drastically reduce the noise coming into your ears, installing soundproof windows can already filter out a large portion of the ambient city noise.
Aside from using soundproof windows to protect your home from the outside noise, here are some other tips to enhance the soundproofing in your house:
- Put thick curtains by the windows.
- Add textured materials that are known to absorb sound. Some of these materials include carpets and rugs, cloth-lined seating furniture, and wood.
- Install sealants and gaskets along the seams and gaps on windows and doors.
- Add home items that break up any bouncing sounds within the room. Some examples include a large bookcase, area rugs, and acoustic panels.
The sights and sounds of the city may liven you up in some cases. However, you also need to take some time off the ambient city noise and immerse yourself in a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere within the comforts of your own home.
