Why scheduling quiet time every day is good for your health
After air pollution, road, rail and air traffic noise is the second most important cause of ill health in western Europe, according to the
World Health Organisation
(WHO). Industry, construction, public works and neighbourhood noise all add to what it calls 'environmental noise'.
Heart attack
,
stroke
, reduced cognitive performance in children, severe annoyance and sleep disturbance can result from prolonged exposure to such noise, according to the WHO.
It is estimated to cause 12,000 premature deaths, and to contribute to 48,000 new cases of heart disease in Europe every year, says the organisation.
READ MORE
Noise is a health problem for at least one in five EU citizens, according to the
European Commission
. Yikes.
It's hard for urban dwellers to avoid noise, but they are not the only ones affected. In areas affected by noise, the proportion of people 'highly annoyed' by noise is greater in rural areas than noisy urban areas, according to the
European Environment Agency
.
This suggests that unnatural sound, such as wind turbines, perhaps, is more annoying in the context of rural areas and perhaps masks other, more beneficial, natural sounds, according to the 2016 Quiet Areas in Europe report by the Agency.
The Environmental Noise Directive is the main EU law for noise pollution. It requires countries to publish noise maps and action plans every five years. It isn't prescriptive about noise limits or mitigations, however. That's for member states to decide for themselves.
Action will have to be ramped up if the number of people affected by transport noise is to be reduced by its target of 30 per cent by 2030, says the European Commission.
[
Dublin Airport noise could cause heart issues for nearly 17,000 people living nearby
Opens in new window
]
One action is identifying and preserving areas where there is good environmental noise quality.
This kind of tranquillity is often found where there is vegetation, low levels of man-made sounds and the dominance of natural sounds, according to the Quiet Areas report. The visual intrusion of man-made structures and buildings into an otherwise perceived natural landscape can also reduce the sense of tranquillity.
Ireland ranked fourth in EU countries where people living in cities of more than 50,000 inhabitants had access to quiet areas within a one-hour drive, according to the report. Those living in Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg had the least access to quiet areas.
It's important for all of us to get respite from noise pollution and the Environmental Noise Directive allows for the designation and protection of quiet areas.
Limerick City and County Council
has some areas in mind. Since 2020 Limerick has been inviting its citizens to use the free Hush City app to record information on areas in the city and county where they find peace and tranquillity. This information is then available to policymakers, and it shows others where they can find peace and quiet too.
As part of Limerick's Noise Action Plan 2024-2028, the council will assess sound in parks and other green spaces in Adare, Newcastle West, Croom and Abbeyfeale, gathering supportive evidence to have them officially designated as Quiet Areas.
[
'Like living near a helicopter': Residents fed up at takeaway delivery drones buzzing over their homes
Opens in new window
]
Limerick was ranked 'excellent' by the
Environmental Protection Agency
for its 2023 noise action plan progress report. The city and county have been using low-noise road surfaces, introducing traffic calming to reduce speeds, conducting noise monitoring surveys and prioritising cycling and walking routes.
Noise is about culture and respect among people too. In some areas of Germany, you wouldn't dream of mowing your grass or cutting hedges between 1pm and 3pm as it is typical for older generations to sleep at this time. If you haven't stopped work, you will likely get a gentle reminder from a neighbour to do so. It's a two-way street, where neighbours assure each other some quiet time every day.
So whether it's your phone on speaker on public transport, your strimmer going on a Sunday morning, or your dog barking all day, spare a thought for those around you. Don't make noise, make peace.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
14 hours ago
- Irish Times
‘By the time we see couples, there is no hand-holding, let alone sex': how to treat female sexual pain
While sex is not a defining factor in a healthy relationship, it can be a key cornerstone for connection and intimacy. Sex is known to be linked to a number of positives, such as lower stress and blood pressure, a higher rate of happiness and a better self-image – to name but a few. But how a person responds to sex can be complex, and female sexual pain can greatly affect a couple. 'A lot of pelvic health conditions are still taboo for many and, to be fair, most people do not discuss their sexual health with others,' says Linsey Blair, a couple and individual psychotherapist and psychosexual therapist with the Evidence Based Therapy Centre (EBTC) in Galway. 'It may be more difficult to discuss if one is feeling they are not functioning 'normally'. I think things are changing, but very slowly. We need to end the stigma associated with sexual health conditions and create awareness around options available for people to get solutions. Sometimes, people just don't know the help is there.' READ MORE Female sexual pain disorders present with a variety of symptoms, including pain or discomfort with penetration or being unable to tolerate any penetration whatsoever, be that with a digit, a tampon, menstrual cup or penis. Pain is not specifically internal, but also on the vulva, the outer genitals. 'A woman who previously could have pain-free sex may start to experience pain or discomfort,' says Sylvia Farrell, a chartered physiotherapist specialising in women's and men's pelvic health. 'There are many possible reasons for this, including trauma related to childbirth if scarring is present from tearing, episiotomy or invasive medical procedures.' [ 'Many women are taught they should put up with it': What to do about painful sex Opens in new window ] Farrell notes there are also hormonal changes that can happen at different life stages for women, namely around menopause when these variations can cause structural changes or affect the vagina's lubricant, which in turn may impact how comfortable or enjoyable sex is. How couples deal with a pain disorder can impact marital sexual satisfaction. Most often this comes down to communication being the barrier, rather than the pain disorder itself. 'When a woman finds penetration sore or uncomfortable, instead of explaining this to her partner and seeking help, she may start to withdraw from sex,' explains Blair. 'This often means that all forms of touch get withdrawn in case they lead to sex. By the time we see couples, there is no hand-holding, hugging or light touch, let alone sex. This is not directly because of the female pelvic pain disorder.' When couples are affected by female sexual pain, Blair and Farrell note that the first step is to seek help in identifying the pain and managing a plan on how best to treat it, which could be seeking support from a pelvic health physio or sex therapist. Ideally, both. 'A burning, friction pain during penetration may simply be lack of lubrication or using a lubricant that is causing a reaction,' says Farrell, who treats the condition from a physical point of view. 'It could also be a sign that the couple are moving to penetration too soon. If the pain is a deep pain that occurs in certain sexual positions, again it could be penetrating too soon. If the pain is a stinging, tearing pain and the penis cannot get in, this is a vaginismus-type pain.' Equally, Blair, who would seek to treat the pain from an emotional or psychological perspective, believes that sexual pain is always trying to communicate something, and so while it is helpful to treat it physically, it is also important to explore what is happening emotionally. 'I have seen female sexual pain develop as a result of stress either in the couple's relationship or related to other external factors,' she says. 'If a couple are going too fast to penetration this might be painful for the female. After repeated sexual experiences of pain, the vagina will start to react and 'brace' itself for the pain by tightening, which unfortunately leads to more pain, and so a disorder that needs physio input might start to develop. 'I would not automatically assume that the symptomatic partner is the one with the problem and if this is fixed all will be fine. If the issue is related to stress or problems in the relationship dynamic or individual trauma then it will not be fixed by a physical treatment plan alone.' Blair also points out that, often when sexual pain occurs, rather than the couple immediately discussing it, they keep trying the same things again and again, hoping maybe next time will be better. 'This just reinforces the pain cycle,' she says. 'If there is a lot of pelvic or genital pain, I would simply engage much more with the rest of the body and play around with the parts that often get left out like the feet, ears, stomach, backs of legs that are all very sensitive to touch. 'Just moving away from the genitals will actually help the body relax and the muscles, including the pelvic floor, will start to soften. This alone isn't a cure for sexual pain, but it is a way to keep the couple connected sexually without retriggering and thereby reinforcing the pain response.' Farrell and Blair have developed a joint model of pelvic health physio and couples therapy at EBTC as a whole body and mind approach to female sexual pain disorders. 'The body and mind are constantly relating and impacting one and other,' says Blair. 'When a tear after birth occurs, the body's response to pain causes the mind to begin fearing penetration or physical touch and the minds solution is to get the body out of danger by withdrawing from touch. The anxiety caused by the mind then feeds back into the body and strengthens the pain response because anxiety in the body causes more muscle tension.' [ 'Sex is difficult and sometimes impossible for me' Opens in new window ] Blair also suggests that if there is a history of sexual trauma, then the mind will associate sex with negative and frightening emotions. As with traumatic birth experiences, this fear around sex will then get into the body and cause a bodily response of tightening that can then lead to pain and reinforce the idea of sex being dangerous. 'These are psychological issues that have led to a somatic response,' says Blair. 'There is no issue that is just somatic and when we work with sexual pain it is obviously not just psychological.' Farrell and Blair have identified that the dual approach of sessions with a sex therapist and a pelvic health physio, who continually liaise and adjust treatment plans in accordance with new information, makes for a very effective form of treatment. Additionally, the sex therapist can help the couple create more intimacy in their relationship. Overall, the intervention is a holistic approach to somatic-led pain.
Irish Times
21 hours ago
- Irish Times
Court hears nurse raised concerns that flow of oxygen at low level for first 11 minutes of baby's life
A nurse who was involved in the resuscitation of a baby who died five days later has said she was 'extremely concerned' after finding that oxygen flow through respiratory equipment used was initially at a low level. A sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court heard on Wednesday that nurse Elaine Sheehy raised concerns that the flow of oxygen was at a low level for the first 11 minutes of Aaron Cullen's life. Ms Sheehy, who resigned from her post at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise in October 2016 and took up a post elsewhere, was on duty at the Special Care Baby Unit when she was asked to urgently attend resuscitation efforts. Aaron had been born by emergency Caesarean section on May 4th, 2016, at 35 weeks gestation. The inquest heard he was 'extraordinarily' unwell after his birth and was 'gasping' for breath, witnesses said. READ MORE He suffered from severe persistent pulmonary hypertension, a condition in which a baby fails to transition from antenatal circulation. Two attempts to intubate him after birth by a paediatric registrar were unsuccessful. Between attempts, a Neopuff resuscitator was used in an effort to pump his lungs. Aaron was 11 minutes old by the time Ms Sheehy arrived, she said, recalling the mask being used to ventilate him being too large, as it was for full-term babies. It was then switched to a preterm mask, which was readily available in the room, to ensure an airtight seal so no gas could escape. Ms Sheehy further recalled being 'extremely upset and concerned' at the fact that she had to increase the oxygen flow of the Neopuff used during resuscitation. Although she could not be certain, she said she either had to turn on the flow of gas providing oxygen entirely or she at least needed to it turn up to recommended levels. Ms Sheehy, who became visibly upset while giving evidence, said she found the fact that she had to adjust the flow 'very upsetting'. While Prof Colm O'Donnell, a consultant neonatologist and expert witness who reviewed the case for the coroner, said he could not definitively say whether or not the Neopuff gas flow was turned on, it was his opinion that it was. He cited several staff being in attendance before Ms Sheehy arrived, saying they reported checking the equipment before Aaron's delivery. He also noted that although Aaron did not breathe spontaneously, his heart rate increased from less than 60bpm to over 100bpm, which indicated the machine had some effect. Prof O'Donnell said Aaron's lungs were 'very poorly compliant', adding that it would have been 'extremely difficult' to aerate his lungs during mask ventilation as opposed to intubation, which the inquest heard was not achieved until 21 minutes after his birth. While sooner intubation would have allowed for an immediate and better supply of oxygen, he did not believe this, or a proper fitting mask from the beginning, would have changed the outcome. Ms Sheehy disclosed concerns to the hospital's interim director of midwifery, Maureen Revilles, after learning of Aaron's death, which took place at the Coombe hospital on May 9th. Ms Revilles, who said she expected Ms Sheehy to be a witness at Aaron's initial inquest due to the disclosure, insisted that she said she had to turn on the machine. This was later 'revised' to her having to turn up the flow, she said. Evidence concerning Ms Sheehy's concerns was not made available to coroner Dr Myra Cullinane at the time of the original inquest, which returned a narrative verdict. The evidence was secured by his mother, Claire Cullen, through Freedom of Information requests, prompting a fresh inquiry. An inquest verdict is due to be returned on Thursday.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Kilkenny granny running out of time to get lifesaving treatment for grandson (4) – ‘I will keep fighting until my or his last breath'
Diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), William Moore's muscles have begun to waste away, not strong enough to hold up his small body. William will likely be fully wheelchair-bound by the age of eight, only four years from now. He has already started using a wheelchair part-time, proving just how rapidly the DMD is progressing and taking over his body. It is also unlikely that William will live long enough to celebrate a birthday beyond his 25th year – and that's best case scenario. DMD is a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and deterioration that rapidly gets worse over time. As DMD progresses, the heart and respiratory muscles are affected as well. As a result, DMD is ultimately fatal. Most people diagnosed with the condition die at a young age from lung and heart issues caused by it. As there is no cure available for DMD, treatments focus instead on managing symptoms and improving the patient's quality of life. For William's grandmother, Sarka Palouckova, this feels like a jail sentence. She must sit back and watch helplessly as William continues to deteriorate right in front of her very eyes. Something as small as a slight gust of wind and sometimes even just thin air is enough to knock William over. Speaking to The Irish Independent in February of this year, Sarka explained that there is no treatment available in Ireland for William. "Back when William was first diagnosed with DMD and I realised there was no treatment for him in Ireland that could help him, I just kept crying and crying and crying,' said Sarka. 'I couldn't even work. I'm his grandmother, I want to protect him. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more "To this day, I still cry because I see how quickly the DMD is progressing. It's progressing at a faster pace than was expected and in comparison to other children the same age as him with DMD. "He is already starting to walk on his toes more and walking is getting harder for him and his balance is a lot worse. He falls over now because of just thin air.' After many sleepless nights scouring the internet, William's family came across a procedure called Elevidys, a gene therapy for people diagnosed with DMD. Elevidys prevents muscle cells from degenerating and may strengthen muscles by helping the body create protein. The only problem is the procedure is not available in Ireland or any EU country for that matter. Instead, William will have to travel all the way to America to the Boston Children's hospital if he wants to get Elevidys. However, the treatment will cost William's family an astronomical $3.7m, plus additional fees after he gets the treatment. A Go Fund Me page set up by William's grandmother has so far raised just over €39,000 out of the €4m target. While William's family are so grateful for everyone who has donated so far, William's condition is getting progressively worse, at a pace faster than anyone anticipated. Following a bad fall in May that left William unable to walk for over three weeks, Sarka is terrified her grandson is running out of time. "Recently, he had a fall in May and for three and a half weeks, he stopped walking altogether,' Sarka told The Irish Independent this week. 'It was a terrifying time, and I feared he might never walk again. "Thankfully, he's back on his feet now. In the meantime, he received his first wheelchair and a stand at home, which is helping him stretch his muscles.' As a result of the fall and his muscles wasting away, William can now only walk 300 metres before he falls over or has to be carried. When his legs are too exhausted to carry him further, William uses a wheelchair to get around. "The wheelchair is bittersweet,' said Sarka as she started to cry. 'In the wheelchair he has freedom to go wherever he likes without me carrying him which makes me so happy to see him happy and free. "But the wheelchair also makes me sad because it's a reminder of how bad William's condition is getting. We didn't expect him to be using a wheelchair already at just four-and-a-half years old.' Sarka does not know where to turn to next for help. With donations slowing down on the Go Fund Me page, she is at a loss of what to do next. "I cry most days. I feel so helpless and alone. I'm trying to save my grandson, but I don't know what else I can do. But I know I can't give up. I will keep fighting until mine or his last breath. "Some people might think there are many treatments available for Duchenne right now. But unfortunately, almost all of them are targeted at mutations from exon one to exon 58. William has a rare duplication of exon 62, which makes him ineligible for nearly every one of those options. "I've even contacted several clinical trials directly, but they all replied saying he's not eligible because of that specific mutation. Right now, the only available option for him is Elevidys in the US. That's why we're doing everything we can to try and get him there.' Despite the many setbacks, Sarak will keep fighting for William's future. With the help of all those who have donated so far to the Go Fund Me page and also other supporters of William who have organised their own fundraisers for the young Kilkenny boy, Sarka hopes she will eventually be able to raise the money for William's lifesaving treatment. At the moment, two young men from Kilkenny, Seán Lawlor and Cillian Larkin, are undertaking a mammoth cycle of approximately 4,000km from Dublin all the way to Istanbul to raise money for William's treatment. Seán and Cillian are currently cycling through Bosnia and Herzegovina. 'Seán and Cillian are two incredible guys from Kilkenny cycling from Dublin to Istanbul for William,' explained Sarka. 'They started their journey on May 16, but unfortunately about two weeks ago, while they were in Milan, Italy, they faced some difficulties. Cillian had his phone pickpocketed, and Sean's bicycle was stolen. "Thankfully, they managed to sort everything out after two days and are now back on track. "I also want to mention the support from local TD Natasha Newsome-Drennan who brought William's case to the Dáil twice,' added Sarka. 'I've sent many emails to all the TDs to stand with Natasha. Initially, it seemed positive and hopeful, but unfortunately, they have now gone completely silent. It's disheartening after such an encouraging start.' Also on Saturday July 5, Ryan's Bar in Kilkenny is hosting Cuckoo Fest 25 with live music from 3pm until late to raise money for William's treatment. "We are still fighting every single day to raise the money William needs,' said Sarka defiantly. 'At the same time, we're constantly reading, reaching out, and looking into any newly opened clinical trials that might offer hope. We will never give up.' You can donate to William Moore's Go Fund Me page to help raise money for his treatment here
