You’re sitting at the airport, filled with excitement. People pass by laden with suitcases. Someone sprints behind you, desperate to make a connecting flight. You’re one airborne nap away from some much-needed rest and relaxation.

As you board the plane and take your seat, you notice a fussing baby a few rows over. Your seatmate is playing games on his phone with the sound on. The flight attendant’s voice crackles over the announcement system. You settle in, prepared to endure this oh-so-human cacophony in order to start your vacation.

But it’s the sound we often don’t notice that we might need to pay more attention to.

Despite its ability to fade into the background, the airplane’s engine noise is far from quiet. Inside an airplane’s cabin, the noise typically hovers between 75 and 85 decibels. But during takeoff and landing, the engines can peak at more than 110 decibels. Every three-decibel surge corresponds to double the intensity of the sound reaching our ears. And, for a baseline: Fifty years ago, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health set sound exposure recommendations of 85 decibels for an eight-hour shift for workers. Now, experts say prolonged noise can also be a risk to our hearing.

What can you do? Well, consider your seat location. Avoid seats near the wings and the rear of the plane, as they’re closer to the engines. Earplugs and head phones can help, as can drinking fluids. By sipping water, you lessen the feeling of ear pressure changes whose discomfort can be amplified by the noise.

So plug in, drink up and enjoy the flight. You’re almost there.