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The Effect of Noise on Sleep

empirical.health

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Re: The Effect of Noise on Sleep

#81

Post by gowld »

alexyaseen wrote: post #57
conradev wrote: post #28

A lot of folks are talking about the “consistency” of a sound (constant white noise vs random sounds) and its volume, but I feel like the nature of the sound matters a lot more. I’ll respond much differently to my bedroom door opening or a voice speaking than I do a bus outside. It reminds me of the anecdote where human researchers rang bells near bears (human sounds) and the bears didn’t care, but if they broke a la…

why don't more hotels seem to understand this? so often I find that even nice hotels have very minimal background noise but poor soundproofing of the doors. so hallway noise disrupts sleep so much

Because good materials cost more than "fancy" decorations.

Re: The Effect of Noise on Sleep

#82

Post by rangestransform »

anal_reactor wrote: post #72
rebeccaskinner wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately even without engine noise people will still install gigantic subwoofers in their car and roll around rattling windows. This has consistently been the biggest problem with my sleep for years, and nothing I've been able to do (including trying to move to different locations) has helped because they are so incredibly loud and prevalent these days.

I bought an apartment next to a cycling path that connects the area to the city centre and that was singlehandedly the biggest mistake of my life, because the path also allows mopeds, which have engines orders of magnitude louder than loudest cars. This is insanity. Thankfully, the city is planning to ban fossil-fuel mopeds within five years. They already started phasing them out, you can't register a new one, only o…

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/let-bro...

didn't you get the memo that wanting peace and quiet is racist and classist now?

Re: The Effect of Noise on Sleep

#83

Post by gowld »

sidewndr46 wrote: post #39
YossarianFrPrez wrote: post #30

Some days I joke that there should be a set of Nobel prizes for making machines quieter. Categories could include: air-conditioning units and mini-fridges, construction and landscaping equipment, old university buildings, pump-housings, etc. The quality of life of many would be improved if we had quieter machines. It boggles my mind that a) in many hotel rooms one can hear a good deal of machine noise and neighbors'…

Noise from construction machines is actually a feature. They all have added backup beepers at this point as required per OSHA guidelines. Audible for well over a mile in normal conditions

Those beepers should be directional. I don't need to hear the beep opposite the direction of movement.

Re: The Effect of Noise on Sleep

#84

Post by aegypti »

socalgal2 wrote: post #70

I don't know how to state this well but I find the fact that nearly all new apartment buildings in California are only allowed to be built on busy streets very frustrating. I'm guessing it's part nimby-ism and part zoning but every time I see a new apartment complex it's next to the busiest streets in the city (LA, SF). It's like many things, if you want health you must be rich. If you can't afford a house then F.U.…

https://cayimby.org/legislation/sb-79/

They will be allowed by right near any type of transit stop if SB79 goes through!

Re: The Effect of Noise on Sleep

#85

Post by Arainach »

octo888 wrote: post #58
uludag wrote: post #56

I've been using earplugs practically every night for the past three years and I can't recommend them enough. While the particular kind I use (Mack's ultra soft) don't block out all the noise, there is a wide variety of noises that used to wake me up which don't anymore. If you haven't tried them I would highly recommend giving sleeping with earplugs a shot. It only takes a few days or so to get used to them. In terms…

3M 1100 work great for me. You can get a box of 200 pairs Unfortunately they changed a bit the past few years to be slightly less comfortable but I still find them the best overall

Foam are significantly less comfortable for side sleeping and block less noise than Silicone (Mack's) which still come in large sets for well under $1/pair.

Re: The Effect of Noise on Sleep

#86

Post by aegypti »

sjs382 wrote: post #80
socalgal2 wrote: post #70

I don't know how to state this well but I find the fact that nearly all new apartment buildings in California are only allowed to be built on busy streets very frustrating. I'm guessing it's part nimby-ism and part zoning but every time I see a new apartment complex it's next to the busiest streets in the city (LA, SF). It's like many things, if you want health you must be rich. If you can't afford a house then F.U.…

> only allowed to be built on busy streets Is this true or a misleading observation? I can see some argument about it, increasing traffic in areas that aren't equipped for it if the building is large enough. But it might just be market forces, too: in larger cities, it's often more desirable to be near a major artery. Earplugs (if the noise bothers you) vs a longer commute.

It is quite literally illegal to build anything but detached single family homes on 95.8 percent of the total residential land area in California / 75% of the residential land area in most major American cities.

Re: The Effect of Noise on Sleep

#87

Post by kjkjadksj »

aegypti wrote: post #84
socalgal2 wrote: post #70

I don't know how to state this well but I find the fact that nearly all new apartment buildings in California are only allowed to be built on busy streets very frustrating. I'm guessing it's part nimby-ism and part zoning but every time I see a new apartment complex it's next to the busiest streets in the city (LA, SF). It's like many things, if you want health you must be rich. If you can't afford a house then F.U.…

https://cayimby.org/legislation/sb-79/ They will be allowed by right near any type of transit stop if SB79 goes through!

This entrenches that behavior because the transit stops are often on arterials.

Re: The Effect of Noise on Sleep

#88

Post by kjkjadksj »

gowld wrote: post #79
amanaplanacanal wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Streets are much quieter at lower speed limits. There is definitely room for improvement here from the traffic engineers.

Downtown is very low speed but very noisy.

Say what you will about the suburbs but the grass and landscaping on each and every property is like noise cancelling foam being applied compared to the hardscaping downtown.

Re: The Effect of Noise on Sleep

#89

Post by adonovan »

WhereIsTheTruth wrote: post #31

I find it fascinating that as a society, we allowed automobiles to pass close to homes I'm glad we are finally going to transition to EVs.. about time

Yeah, it is sad to think how different things could have been, especially when you consider how loud/dangerous/toxic early cars were.

On the other hand, before that, we (humans) allowed horses to shit (and decompose) in the streets, and long before that, we invited livestock to spend the winter in the same room. So the past wasn't idyllically clean or well organized either.

Re: The Effect of Noise on Sleep

#90

Post by octo888 »

Arainach wrote: post #85
octo888 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

3M 1100 work great for me. You can get a box of 200 pairs Unfortunately they changed a bit the past few years to be slightly less comfortable but I still find them the best overall

Foam are significantly less comfortable for side sleeping and block less noise than Silicone (Mack's) which still come in large sets for well under $1/pair.

Ear plugs are highly personal I find. People need to find what works for them. I can't stand wax or silicone earplugs for example. I sleep on my side
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