Have you ever wanted to sleep but couldn’t? Or perhaps you are thinking a lot of things that your brain keeps you awake. Sleeping is essential to us. When we are sick or just tired, we want to close our eyes and refresh our bodies.
So, when we want to sleep, but we can’t find a way to do it, we usually resort to various sleeping aids. Some find listening to music relaxing and helps them fall asleep, while some prefer to take sleeping pills.
However, not all these methods could work, so people check other ways. Thanks to the advancement of our technologies, you’ll find various pieces of equipment that’ll help you fall asleep. When people do their research on devices to help them sleep, they’ll find various websites, such as Sleeping Aid Machine.
This article will cover different sound types, benefits, safety, and side effects.
Types Of Sound To Help Us Sleep Well
Many sound machines became sleep aids because our sounds can help our brain feel more relaxed. Your brain continuously processes the sound that you hear, affecting your sleeping condition.
Sleep aids produce sounds that help us fall asleep. Sounds come in various colors, but the three types that can help us with our sleep are pink noise, white noise, and brown (red) noise.
The color of sounds that we hear is determined by energy. To put it simply, it’ll depend on the distribution of energy over different frequencies or the speed of sound.
The sounds will help you fall asleep better and, at the same time, help you get extended sleep, which helps in weight loss, according to studies.
Pink Noise
Pink noise consists of all the frequencies we can hear. However, their energy isn’t equally distributed. It’s more intense in lower frequencies, creating deep sleep for people with trouble getting sleep.
A perfect example of pink noise is the sound you hear in nature. Rusting leaves, wind, heartbeats, and steady rain are the most common sounds.
You’ll find pink noise to be flat or even to human ears.
White Noise
White noise is probably the most common one among the other colors. It is commonly used to treat sleeping disorders such as insomnia as it has all the audible frequencies, and unlike pink noise, the frequencies get the energy equally.
The equal distribution produces a continuous humming sound.
The most common examples of white noise we can hear are whirring fans, hissing radiators, and humming air conditioners.
The humming sound produced has the same intensity. Therefore, it can mask loud sounds that can stimulate our brains.
Brown Noise
Brown noise (sometimes called red noise by some people) produces higher energy at lower frequencies, making the sounds much deeper than pink and white noise. Some examples are strong waterfalls and thunder.
According to studies, brown noise can be useful in reducing the symptoms of people who suffer from tinnitus or ringing sounds in their ears. It can also contribute to enhancing cognitive skills.
There isn’t enough study that can support its effectiveness when it comes to improving sleeping conditions. However, there is anecdotal evidence that brown noise can help our brains relax.
The Benefits, Safety, and Side Effects
All the sounds mentioned above can be produced using devices, meaning you don’t need to repeatedly go to pharmacies for sleeping pills. You just need to buy one device, and it’ll last for years and give you a relaxing sleep.
You also don’t need to go to your doctor for a prescription, as anyone can purchase a sleeping aid. You can even use it for your babies to help them sleep well.
They are highly safe and non-invasive. Sleeping pills contain addictive contents, making us more dependent on them.
For instance, most over-the-counter sleeping pills contain an antihistamine, which sedative effects tolerance can develop faster. Some people take valerian and melatonin supplements to help them sleep faster. Although melatonin is a hormone in our bodies that promotes sleep, according to experts, melatonin poisoning in children has increased.
However, there is also a low risk of dependence when it comes to using sleeping aids that produce sounds, especially for babies. Infants can become more reliant on the sound machine.
It would be very problematic if you were on a trip and forgot to bring the machine with you.
Some babies and adults don’t like specific sounds, too, so it’s best to identify which sound helps you feel more relaxed.
Aside from the ones mentioned above, no other major side effects have been noted.
Sum Up
Many sleeping aids produce different sounds. White noise is the most common for most people because the energy distribution is equal. You’ll also find machines that produce pink and brown noise.
When choosing a device to help you sleep better, make sure that it produces the sound that makes you feel relaxed. You also need to use the device with proper volume as it could also affect your hearing when used loudly.
How you decide to add noise or listen is up to you. For some, they purchase a sound machine that has various noises from white, pink, or brown. This provides a variety of sounds for you and your partner or spouse. Others run a fan, humidifier, or purifier to add a humming sound to the space. Apps are available on phones or Spotify provides sleep sound mixes. If you are struggling to find a balance and you share a room, shop for light earbuds so your roommate gets enough sleep.
A good night’s sleep is just as important as healthy food and regular exercise. Did you know that you spend nearly one-third of your life sleeping? So you better be good at it!
Good sleep is imperative for better health. If you fall short of sleep, your energy during the day, productivity, emotional balance, and weight all get affected. Try adding ambiance to your bedroom to create a sound-full sleep.
If you want to sleep better, then you are in the right place. Call one of Alaska Sleep Clinic’s locations today, in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Soldotna, and Wasilla.
Improve Your Sleep. Improve Your Life.
