Noise may posea serious threat to our physical and psychological health

Unlike the eye, the ear has no lid, therefore noise penetrates without protection. Loud noises instinctively signal danger to any organism with a hearing mechanism, including huma beings. In response, heartbeat and respiration accelerate. In fact there is a general increase in fuctioning brought by the flow of adrenaline released in response the fear.

Because noise is unavoidable in a complex, industrial society, we are constantly responding in the same ways that we would respond to danger. Recently, researches have concluded that noise and our response may be much more than annoyance. It may be a serious threat to physical and psychological health and well being, causing damage not only to the ear and brain but also to the  heart and stomach. We have long known that hearing loss is America's number one nonfatal health problem, but now we are learning that some of us with heart disease and ulcers may be victims of noise as well.