Car alarms, screeching subway cars, loud bars and barking dogsare only a few of the annoyances that can harass people on adaily basis. In a large metropolitan city, these things are thenorm and are actually harmful to your ears.

If you are exposed to this constantly you can suffer permanenthearing loss. A rock concert has the noise level of 110decibels. Even a crowded restaurant can be as much as 96decibels. And if the sound was not enough, it can damage yourears immediately. When noise is loud it can kill the nerveendings in the inner ear. There is no way to restore nerveendings that are dead. Hearing loss happens gradually, so youwould not know about it unless you have your ears tested. Bythen it can be too late.

Noise also has other detrimental factors. It can cause highblood pressure, fatigue and headaches. It can cause anxiety anddifficulty focusing on chores.

New York city became the first city in the United States toadopt a noise code in 1972. It is still in effect today. The lawsays that no car alarm can ring for more than 3 minutes and thatconstruction can only occur weekdays between 7 A.M. and 6 P.M.and weekends 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. The only way it is enforced isthrough complaints. You can be fined $45 for "unreasonablenoise" and as much as $8,000 for larger violations (say, in anightclub).

Listening to an iPod? Don't spin the dial up more than twothirds. Earbuds can increase the volume and put your ears inconstant danger.

The average rock concert has 115 decibels, fifteen minutes isthe most you can handle without ear plugs. If they are properlyfitted, ear plugs work very well. Foam earplugs are made to lastonly a couple of days. Wax ones are stronger. There are alsocustom made silicon-rubber earplugs, which you can wash andre-use for years. They can cost as much as $125.

Sound proofing your home is a good idea as well. Hang heavywindow curtains and use acoustical tile where possible. If youreally need some quiet time, go to the beach, swim, or go to thelibrary.