Everyday Canvas

Sudden Sounds

Prompt: Sudden Sounds and Noises
What is the loudest sound you’ve heard? When and how was it? What do you think about sudden sounds and noises? Did you ever think of using them in your poetry or fiction?

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Who hasn't startled suddenly from a shrill or something-exploding sound! When such a sound occurs unexpectedly my body goes into a state of high alert. I bet my heart rate increases, adrenaline surges, and my muscles tense up. Those who know say that this response is an evolutionary adaptation designed to help us react to a potential threat, quickly.

Usually, I can take the sound of thunder, as loud as it may be, if the storm emerges slowly, but when out of the blue a huge sound of thunder pops up, I jump up, and even my cat seeks refuge under the bed. This I call a sudden stress. The same happens with jet engines when an airplane flies suddenly too low.

Worse is, when prolonged exposure happens to loud and sudden noises, people experience health problems. Such repeating instances of noise pollution, even when we know the origin of the sounds, create elevated stress hormone levels, sleep disturbances, increased risk of cardiovascular problems, and possibly many other health issues, among them hearing damage and cognitive impairment such as memory problems and difficulty in focusing. The same could hold true about the health problems that loud concerts and the sounds of firearms may cause.

This must be why every Fourth of July all the dogs on my street are scared. It is not just the fireworks though. Any sudden, loud noise hurts every pet and human. That's why I applaud all public health efforts to reduce noise pollution for to create quieter environments for communities.

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