Health Benefits of Listening to Music
Listening to music is one of the most enjoyable activities we can do. Music is capable of making us feel emotions, rekindling moments, dreaming, thinking, catharsis, creating, having fun, and even helping us to connect with others. Clearly, this is a very beneficial activity, but how do we list all the good things it does for us? Let's see below.
Listening to music is effective in pain relief
- Slow music helps to slow breathing and heartbeat, preventing feelings of distress.
- It can reduce chronic pain from a variety of painful conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, music therapy is part of treatment programs for this type of patient.
- It often helps people with migraines. It helps to combat chronic headaches and reduce the intensity and duration of chronic headaches, as indicated by this research published in the Jan magazine, in 2016.
- Therefore, it can be said that music therapy is commonly used in hospitals to:
- Reduce the need for medication during labor.
- Reduce post-operative pain.
- Complement the use of anesthesia during surgery.
This is because music serves as a distraction, gives a sense of control, and causes the body to release endorphins to counteract the pain.
lowers blood pressure
By listening to relaxing music in the morning and evening, people with hypertension can lower their blood pressure and keep it down. This follows from a study published in the Cuban Journal of Psychology in 2003.
Speeds up recovery after a stroke
As Ávila deduces from a study published in 2014, a daily dose of your favorite music can speed recovery from bleeding or debilitating paralysis.
When stroke patients listen to music for a few hours a day, verbal memory and attention span usually improve.
Boosts your immunity
Scientists explain that music can create a deep, positive emotional experience that leads to the secretion of hormones that boost the immune system. This, in turn, helps to reduce the factors responsible for the disease.
Likewise, listening to music can also lower levels of the stress-related hormone cortisol. Higher levels of cortisol can lead to a decreased immune response.
Music produces an increase in several hormones: serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.
Increases memory and learning performance
Listening to music or playing an instrument can promote learning.
In the case of Mozart music and baroque music, they activate the left and right brain. Simultaneous left and right brain action maximize learning and information retention.
On the other hand, studying activates the left hemisphere, while the music activates the right hemisphere of the brain.
Also, activities that are nested on both sides of the brain, such as playing an instrument and singing, make the brain better able to process information.
Increases concentration and attention
As stated by Tobar in an article published in Revista EducAcción in 2013, relaxing music improves the duration and intensity of concentration. This also happens at all ages and skill levels.
Improves movement and body coordination
Finally, music reduces muscle tension and body movement and improves coordination. It also plays an important role in the development, maintenance, and restoration of physical function in the rehabilitation of people with movement disorders.
In short, music is a cultural phenomenon that directly influences our mood. Listening to music also activates parts of our brain in ways that are beneficial to our health. Lastly, it causes us to release endorphins, which always make us feel better.
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