Music; symphonies and tunes we listen to when working, listening or just enjoying ourselves. Music can soothe, entertain and inspire us. But do you know the effects that music can have on the heart and mind?
Music is powerful – it can modulate our moods and emotions, change heart activity, blood pressure and breathing. Science has proved that heart rate and respiratory rate is higher when one listens to exciting music, and that heart rate and respiratory rate is lower when listening to calming, slower music. Studies show that the heart rate decreases as a response to unpleasant music compared to pleasant music. According to recent electrocardiogram amplitude patterns, music can also decrease anxiety in patients with types of heart disease.
A 2014 study proved that music was helpful for patients with fibrositis. Fibrositis is pain or inflammation of the muscle sheaths, muscles and connective-tissue layers of the bones, tendons, muscles, and joints. Researchers believe that music can soothe pain as it triggers opioids. Opioids are the body’s natural pain killers.
Furthermore, many studies link listening to music to better memory or memory recall. Patients suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer’s have been reported to recall things when listening to music. Neurologist Oliver Sacks said, “Music evokes emotion, and emotion can bring with it memory. … It brings back the feeling of life when nothing else can.” Subsequently, the patients had reported elevated moods and a better quality of life.
To improve moods and relieve stress when we go through difficult times, listen to music!
By Gursiman Ghataura.
