Is Loud Music Bad For You?
Short answer
Listening to loud music is bad for you (or your ears in this case) - especially over the long-term. However, enjoying a concert here and there or jamming out to your favorite song once in a while shouldn't cause any damage.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Despite the fact (completely biased and unscientific as it may be) that blasting music or going to a rock concert is awesome, in this case, "awesome" does not equate with "good for you." According to US occupational health and safety standards, noise exceeding 85 decibels can cause permanent damage. At the 85 decibels level (the low end of the spectrum), it is suggested to not listen to anything at that loudness for more than 8 hours in one day. Listening to 94 decibels should not exceed one hour per day.
However, when we say "loud music" we often mean concerts or an MP3 player at full volume, both of which exceed 100 decibels. In the case of MP3 players or other personal music devices, it is quite often the case that people listen to their music for far more than one hour per day.
Now, don't try scalping your tickets to the next concert quite yet. In most cases, hearing loss caused by loud noises is temporary and hearing returns to normal the next day. It is through continuous, long-term exposure to loud noise that permanent cochlear damage occurs. If you are listening to your music at full blast all day, you may want to take note - nerve damage caused by loud music is irreversible (that is it's permanent).
There is one benefit, though - loud music can provide a boost of energy, good for such things as working out or getting ready for a competition. Still, all told, listening to loud music has very negative long-term consequences and should be kept to a minimum.
Possible short-term side effects
- temporary hearing loss
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tinnitus
Possible long-term side effects
- permanent hearing loss
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nerve damage
-
impaired learning
-
impaired ability to retain information
Benefits
- may provide a surge of energy
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Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 12-28-2015
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 12-28-2015
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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