Noise cancelling headphones have surprising post-operation benefit: New study

Shockingly, the secret to post-surgery recovery isn’t solely attributed to painkillers. The best way to silence anesthesia side effects may be to turn up the tunes and tune out the noise.

According to new data, noise-cancelling headphones can eliminate unpleasant symptoms after a procedure, including nausea and vomiting.

The study — conducted by First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in Suzhou, China — involved 192 people who received keyhole gynaecological surgery under general anaesthesic. All the patients were on traditional anaesthesia and anti-nausea medication, and a randomized half wore headphones that blocked out noise.

Within the 48 hours post-surgery, only 35% of those who wore the headphones suffered from nausea or vomiting, while 52% of those without ear defenders had the same symptoms.

Although the exact relationship between noise and nausea/vomiting isn’t confirmed, the hypothesis is that sound triggers a stress response that activates the autonomic nervous system, which, in turn, helps to regulate heart rate and interact with certain brainstem pathways.

“The biological plausibility is that general anaesthesia produces unconsciousness without necessarily eliminating all neural processing of sound,” Huayue Liu from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University added.

If you have a surgery coming up and are curious about this unique approach to managing symptoms, the Apple AirPods Max 2 are unquestionably the best choice to test the data. Even better: they’re currently $100 off at Amazon for a limited time.

They block out up to 1.5 times more sound than the previous generation, making for a private, immersive audio experience.

Apple AirPods Max 2

Adaptive Audio automatically adjusts noise cancellation levels according to how loud your surroundings are, while Conversation Awareness lowers the volume of your music so that you can talk to others. And if you don’t want to completely block everyone and everything out? Transparency mode allows more outside noises in for optimal safety, particularly beneficial if you’re wearing the tech while out on the street.

Another standout feature is Live Translation, which automatically translates the person in front of you if they’re speaking a different language.

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The headphones are comfortable enough for all-day wear thanks to memory foam and custom textile ear cushions.

I’ve been wearing my AirPods Max 2 while running, and they’ve been a total game-changer. When I’m at the gym, it’s easy to get distracted, but the noise-cancellation technology has made it much easier to lock in and focus on my technique during treadmill sprints.

Senior Commerce Social Media Marketing Manager Michelle Moezam added, “I love the clicking volume dial — it’s tactile and nostalgic. The secondary button to switch noise-cancelling options in a hurry is quite handy. I like that I can really sink into my music without the buzz of a loud subway car.”

Although Tylenol or Advil can also help post-surgery, it can’t hurt to tap into some new data — and the Apple AirPods Max 2 (now $100 off!) are the perfect place to start.

Shop more noise-cancelling headphones

Beats Studio Pro Premium Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

This model has a powerful battery life of up to 40 hours and is compact enough to take on the go during upcoming travels.

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones

Bose’s best-selling design is not only equipped with top-of-the-line noise cancellation, but it also includes a built-in mic for phone calls.

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Soundcore Anker Space 2 Bluetooth 6.1 Over-Ear Headphones

The brand promises that their four-stage, low-frequency noise cancelling system will block out everything from annoying cars honking to subway noises.

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This article was written by Carrie Berk, Commerce Reporter for the New York Post. Carrie specializes in New York City-ready fashion finds for every style, age and budget. Combing the internet’s sale sections, brand collaborations, seasonal trends, timeless staples and lookalike styles, she makes recommendations that stand the test of time in your wardrobe – without breaking the bank. Before joining The Post full time in 2026, her work appeared in HuffPost, Women’s Health, Newsweek and more.

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