By Karen Espig
You have likely heard of white noise, but did you know noise also comes in pink? And not only pink but a veritable rainbow of options, including brown, grey, blue, and red.
But what the heck is pink noise? And why is it so popular and trending right now? Let’s take a listen.
The Colour Of Noise
If you are like me, it’s difficult to wrap your head around noise having a colour, but there you have it. Every day is a school day, it seems.
While there is no actual colour, it is a useful and relatable way of distinguishing among the different frequency mixes of white, pink, or brown noise. If you wish to take a longer listen, there are more colours in the spectrum.
Noise And Sleep
We all know that unwanted noise can disrupt or prevent a good night’s sleep, so it may seem a bit counterintuitive to consider that adding more noise could be the solution. As it turns out, a steady rhythm of certain noise types may help you rest better.
In a study conducted in the never sleeps city of New York, white noise was shown to significantly improve sleep quality. The theory is that listening to a consistent, non-intrusive sound, like white or pink noise, masks out other disruptive noises, allowing for better-quality zzzs.
Why Choose Pink?
Like white noise, the pink counterpart includes the full spectrum of audible sounds, but the frequencies are perceived at a lower pitch and are thought to be more soothing than the full-broadband white noise. Pink noise is reminiscent of natural sounds, like a waterfall, leaves rustling, a flowing river, and waves lapping the beach: you get the gist.
On the other hand, white noise is a bit more intense and includes sounds like static, vacuums, fans, and air conditioners.
Researchers are investigating pink noise to determine if it improves the quality and stability of sleep, as our brain waves tend to synchronise with this noise colour. In addition to potentially enhancing sleep, evidence suggests it also boosts memory.
In another study, the pink noise was not constant but emitted in quiet bursts during strategic periods, resulting in enhanced deep sleep. Improving deep sleep benefits cardiovascular health and reduces stress hormones. There is also some indication that these bursts may help alleviate chronic pain.
Yay! Go Pink!
The Cost Of Insomnia
As it turns out, we are a sleepy bunch these days. According to a 2022 study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), 50-70 million people in the USA have persistent sleep disorders. It is such a serious issue that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US identifies it as a significant health concern. Having chronic insomnia may even affect how long you live!
Poor and low-quality sleep has been linked to workplace and motor vehicle accidents. It is estimated to negatively impact the economy to the tune of $411 billion dollars every year.
If you’ve had a bad night’s sleep, you know how lousy you feel the next day. But did you know that chronic insomnia or short sleeping (anything less than seven hours) may affect your physical and mental health in the long term?
Poor sleep is a factor in many chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. Studies have shown that routinely getting five or fewer hours of sleep per night significantly increases your chance of developing type 2 diabetes….luckily, improving sleep may positively influence blood sugar levels.
Getting Noisy
There are several ways to add health-promoting noise to your night. If you want to go low-tech, try running a fan, air purifier, air conditioner, or heater (based on your local weather, of course).
You will find many free or inexpensive applications right on your smartphone. Both Apple and Google have options. YouTube offers several videos that run for hours, and Spotify and Apple Podcasts also have you covered! You can even ask Alexa if you are in a service area for Amazon.
There are gadgets solely dedicated to noise generation, including those on the pink spectrum. Some are even operated using your smartphone. But be sure to read the user reviews!
The short answer as to why pink noise is all the rage is likely because people have found it helpful or that it at least provides some hope of relief. Sadly, the bigger picture reveals that sleep deprivation is a global concern, with 62% of adults not getting adequate sleep.
And while pink, brown, or white noise might improve our sleep here and now, I think it’s worth investigating the root causes of deficient sleep instead of using merely topical solutions to solve it. In addition to pink noise, you might consider changes to your sleep routine and mindsets around work-life balance and healthy living.
Sleep well, dear readers!