Too often, people think that reversing heart disease means having no fun. That’s not true! A recent study suggested that singing, especially in a group, does your heart good.
Published in
Frontiers in Neuroscience, the study brought together 15 high school students and had them sing different things as a group. The results show that music’s melody and structure has a direct link to the cardiac activity of choir members.
Singing in unison has a synchronizing effect, so that the heart rate of the singers tends to increase and decrease at the same time.
Singing regulates the vagus nerve, which is believed to control our “mind-body” connection.
Songs with long phrases achieve the same effect as breathing exercises in yoga, and help to reduce stress — a major risk factor for heart disease.
Although this was a small study, other previous research has found that singing strengthens the lungs. In addition, the very act of singing causes the release of endorphins, our natural, so-called “happy” hormones.
If that’s not enough, joining together in group singing brings people together, which helps
overcome social isolation, another cardiovascular risk factor.