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Many who need restorative rest most might not be able to get it. Why? They’re in a hospital. Even at night, a hospital can be a noisy place. And research has shown that these noise levels have been rising for decades.
A new study finds that electronic noises in particular interfere with sleep.
Researchers followed the sleep patterns of a dozen healthy volunteers as they spent three nights sleeping in a lab. Their hours of darkness were punctuated with 14 different recorded hospital sounds played at varying volumes. Even when electronic sounds, such as alarm beeps, were played at the level of a whisper, volunteers slightly roused from sleep. The findings are in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. [Orfeu Buxton et al., "Sleep Disruption Due to Hospital Noises: A Prospective Evaluation"]
When the volunteers' sleep was disrupted, their heart rate increased. This frequently elevated heart rate could be especially bad for recovery. A little peace and quiet could make for a lot more restful nights.
—Katherine Harmon
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
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2 Comments
Add CommentHow many ways can I say "duh"?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAs a person who is sound sensitive, I am always amazed how many people don't realize that loud noise bothers the *&%# out of some people.
The first time I remember spending the night in the hospital was when I had my first baby. Luckily I had her right before midnight so it felt like I only spent one night there. It was so noisy and disruptive that I could not wait to go home.
Lights are a big problem as well as noise.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOther patients being attended to at night, even beds being wheeled in and out, can make sleep a problem. The very uncomfortable beds don't help either.
But it's better than being left on a trolley in a busy corridor when the hospital is full.
But the public hospitals are free in New Zealand (and the medical and surgical care is excellent) so there isn't the enormous financial worry as in some countries.