4 Interesting Ways Music Makes You Healthier
Your favorite pop song can cheer you up. Your favorite ballad can make you cry. There’s no denying music impacts our emotions.
But music’s effect doesn’t stop with feelings. Your favorite tunes actually can improve your health. Science says so!
Music reduces pain and anxiety
Studies suggest music you enjoy triggers the release of feel-good chemicals from your brain — a natural high. And that feeling helps block pain and anxiety.
Surgery patients who were treated to music reported less pain and anxiety, according to a Medical News Today report, and they were less likely to need pain medication after their procedures.
You probably don’t have a surgery scheduled, but think about how music might help with other aches. When your back is stiff or your head hurts, listening to something you enjoy can help take the edge off.
Music jogs your memory
You might not be able to remember entire semesters of high school, but you definitely remember the lyrics to your favorite childhood songs.
That’s because songs are easier for the brain to remember. And scientists believe that music-memory connection can be used to bolster your brain.
A group of adults with early-stage dementia showed better mood, episodic memory and overall well-being after 10 weeks of singing coaching or music-listening coaching. Episodic memory is a person’s unique memory of a specific event.
Music relieves stress
Like music, your body has its own tempo. Heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure all ebb and flow depending on how you’re feeling, how active you are and other factors. In a way, you’re a song.
And when your song meets another song, something amazing happens. A high-tempo tune can boost your tempo. And a calming beat can slow your tempo down.
In addition, music you enjoy can lower the stress hormone cortisol in your system.
Calming music you love can combine those two factors to relieve stress and soothe your nerves. Try it!
Music helps your brain heal
When a stroke occurs, the brain is deprived of blood. And the damage often is severe. Paralysis, loss of speech, vision problems, memory loss and behavior changes are common.
Although music can’t counter all the devastating effects of a stroke, research suggests it might help with verbal memory and attention. A study in Finland reported stroke patients who listened to at least two hours of music per day showed improvement in both areas. And those patients reported a better mood than patients who did not listen to music for two hours.