I was riding in my car the other day and turned on some of my favorite, uplifting music and immediately began feeling better. I thought to myself, this is really cool. I should do this more often. Then, I remembered that all inputs change me for the good or for the bad. Inputs can include my own thoughts, but also inputs may be music. Why do I listen to the news programs when music can actually help me out? Why do I bother listening to all the commercials? There are so many inputs we choose to put into our bodies. I want us to think about putting some good, uplifting, music into the brain to help our stress levels and overall health.
When was the last time you felt bad humming a tune or singing a song? There is something about music that has been uplifting through the ages. Feel bad? Sing a song, whistle a tune, or hum a jingle,
There have been numerous studies showing the benefits of music. Music helps ease pain. Music has been shown to help patients recover from surgery and relieve the anxiety of medical procedures. Music has been shown to help in the treatment of cancer.
Music also improves the brain. Want to memorize something? Set the passage to music. Music has been shown to improve cognition, memory, and test taking abilities. Music helps improve moods while driving and is a treatment for depression. Music has been shown to improve the ability to sleep, and better rest makes a better body. Remember when your mom use to sing you lullabies at night? She knew the chemical power of music. I bet you still remember those tunes. How many significant life events have a specific song or tune as a marker?
In my field of cardiovascular health, music has been shown to help. In the journal Circulation, of 2008, is a study showing that music can improve the lining of the blood vessels called the endothelium. This study suggested that music improves the endothelium similar to exercise. The researchers measured the ability of the arteries to dilate when exposed to music. Lower blood pressure by listening to music.
Music has also been shown to help us eat less, especially when the music is the slow relaxing type. Music can enhance and serve as a motivating force in our exercise programs. Want to exercise better? Do not forget the tunes. Who would have thought that music can have a role in our metabolism?
In the 2010 December edition of the journal Heart is an article showing how music helps decrease the stress chemical cortisol while increasing the valuable chemical known as oxytocin. There is so much that we cannot explain in regards to music by science at this point in history. With so many positive chemical aspects, we need to add music to our lives just like rest, water, exercise, service, worship and love. Music helps counteract the stress pipeline. Could a regular pattern of music in my life help my physiology? I challenge you to make music a new prescription in your life. Be the judge and let me know if it changes your health.
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