Article,
Sleep Disturbance in Adults by Noise
Encyclopedia of Environmental Health, (2011)
Abstract
Sleep is a physiological recuperative state that can be interrupted
by various external stimuli such as ambient noise. Noise can be produced
by a large variety of sources and it is generally perceived as an
environmental stressor. The evaluation of the effects of noise on
sleep relies on the observation of the subjective and physiological
reactions of the sleeper. These effects can occur immediately or
after the exposure to noise. Nocturnal awakenings, reduced total
sleep amount, annoyance, and poor sleep quality are among the most
frequent complaints of the noise-exposed populations. Long-term effects
of noise-disturbed sleep on health are difficult to assess as only
few epidemiological studies have been considering the nighttime period.
Nevertheless, recent studies suggest that chronic exposure to noise
increases the risk of hypertension and cardiac diseases and that
sleep period could be among the most sensitive ones.
