It’s been known since ancient times that music and good health go together and doctors today are realizing that as well.
“The ancient Greeks put one god, Apollo, in charge of both medicine and music,” notes Harvey B. Simon, M.D., in a new scientific review of the health benefits of music. His report, published in the American Journal of Medicine, cited numerous studies showing the following benefits of listening to music:
Cardiovascular health: Music that is slow, relaxing and joyful appears to reduce blood pressure, heart rate and promote relaxation of the coronary arteries. While such changes are short-lined, daily sessions of music-guided slow breathing may produce sustained lower blood pressure.
Stress reduction: Listening to music during cataract surgery reduces blood pressure, and music also reduced the amount of sedation that patients need undergoing certain procedure as well as for patients in intensive care units. Doctors believe this is because listening to music calms the body, which lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
Brain boost: Music may enhance thinking abilities in the elderly, improve their quality of life, and possible help dementia. It can also assist recovery, elevate mood and boost muscular function after stroke. Singing helps stroke patients recover speech, and music-based training can improve walking and balance in elderly people at risk of falling.
Mood enhancement: Music therapy has been shown to improve mood and quality of life in patients suffering from a number of ailments, including depression, cancer and chronic pain and well as those facing terminal illness.
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