If you've been leaving theaters with a pain in the head and ears, there could be a reason. Studies show that excessive noise can cause high blood pressure, hypertension and a gradual loss of hearing.
Some movies are louder than others.
Experts say your hearing will be permanently damaged if the 110 decibel level is continuous, lasting for more than a half-hour. In movies, the sound goes up and down, changing as fast as each scene, but sudden bursts of noise can be harmful, too. Less than a generation ago, it was common to boil vegetables until they fell apart with the touch of a fork. Then nutritionists started telling us that raw was better for the body, so we started eating our veggies like rabbits or monkeys. Now a new study says that mushy may be better than crunchy, after all.