Improve Your Health and Brain Power with Music
If you enjoy listening to or producing music in your home recording studio, congratulations: you have chosen a hobby or career that will improve both your health and brain power.
A positive mood, reduced discomfort and anxiety, and possibilities for emotional expression can all be facilitated by music. According to research, music has a variety of positive effects on both our mental and physical health. Therapists in hospitals and assisted care facilities use music therapy to supplement standard medical care for a range of illnesses and disease processes, from anxiety, depression, and stress to pain management and improved functioning following degenerative neurologic conditions.
It’s important to note that the specific benefits of listening to music will depend on the individual and the type of music they are listening to. Additionally, while listening to music can have a number of potential health benefits, it is not a substitute for medical treatment and should not be used to replace other forms of therapy or treatment.
Here are some health benefits that can occur by listening to and creating music:
Heart health: Research shows that blood flows more easily and blood pressure is lowered when you listen to music. It also decreases cortisol, the stress hormone and increases endorphin levels in the blood which are pain and stress reducing chemicals.
Listening to music is good for the body. Studies show that music can help the heart and cardiovascular system. Music can also reduce stress, anxiety and depression, which is good for the heart. Music can lower heart rate, blood pressure, and improve blood vessel health. A new study found that listening to music regularly can lower the risk of death from a heart attack or stroke by up to 20%. In conclusion, listening to music every day can help make the heart healthy and decrease the chance of heart disease.
Mood booster: Music can make you feel better. It’s not just for fun; it can also affect your thoughts and emotions in positive ways. When you hear music, your brain creates a hormone called dopamine that helps your mood stay balanced. This can help you feel happy, less depressed or anxious, and less stressed. Music triggers a part of your brain called the amygdala, which controls your mood and feelings. This can change the chemicals in your brain and help you feel better overall. So if you’re feeling sad or stressed out, taking some time to listen to music you like can help make you feel more relaxed, invigorated, and ready to take on the day.
Listening to music can help reduce stress. When we feel stressed, our body releases cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. Studies have shown that listening to calming music can reduce cortisol levels and improve our mood, lower anxiety, and even reduce blood pressure. Scientists have discovered that music triggers our brain’s biochemical stress reducers, making it an effective method for stress management. Listening to our favorite songs can positively impact our physical and mental well-being. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, try listening to music to feel more relaxed and improve your health.
Eases depression: Listening to happy music can make us feel happy, especially when we’re feeling sad or depressed. Happy songs activate parts of our brain that make us feel good and can help reduce feelings of sadness. This is because certain chemicals are released in our brain when we listen to happy music. Good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin are released, which can improve our mood. Listening to music can also help us forget about negative thoughts and feelings. By creating a playlist of upbeat songs, you can use music to improve your mental health and feel happier. If you’re feeling down, try listening to some happy music to help boost your mood.
Memory stimulation / Increases cognitive function: Music therapy can have important benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Memory and cognitive function can be improved, and symptoms can be lessened. Listening to music can also help people feel more relaxed and reduce stress levels. This type of therapy can also help people communicate better – expressing their emotions and connecting with loved ones in a deeper way. Music therapy is a powerful tool for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, as it can help them live more meaningful lives. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, music therapy can still provide comfort and help to manage the symptoms of the disease.
Related Article Link: “How Learning Piano Benefits Your Brain – 9 Positives of Piano”
Pain management is an essential aspect of healthcare, particularly for people experiencing chronic pain, and it usually involves medication. However, it turns out that music has the potential to be a highly effective pain management tool. A recent study found that music reduces stress levels, which, in turn, provides a powerful counterforce to pain signals in the brain, contributing to the mitigation of pain intensity and discomfort over time. Thus, music therapy is becoming increasingly popular in modern healthcare, supporting an alternative, less invasive approach to pain management. Additionally, music therapy is proving particularly effective in elderly patients, who often have a higher likelihood of suffering from chronic pain. So, whether you’re experiencing acute or persistent pain, consider turning to music as a complementary pain management tool to help you feel more comfortable and relaxed.
Weight loss / Increased workout time: Weight loss is a goal that many people aspire to achieve, and research has found that listening to music during exercise can be very beneficial. Not only can music enhance your workout and increase your motivation to continue exercising, it can also help you eat fewer calories. Many people have experienced slower eating and smaller meals while listening to music during meals. The reason for this is that it can help to decrease distractions and allow you to focus on enjoying your food, leading to a more mindful approach to eating. Additionally, exercising to music can help you increase your workout time and get more out of each session. By choosing songs that have a tempo and beat that you enjoy, you can improve your endurance and ultimately work out for a longer period of time. So, the next time you are looking for ways to improve your weight loss efforts, consider incorporating music into your workouts and meals.
In addition to the above benefits, listening to and creating music can help you with another extremely important health benefit, your sleep. There is no one “best” genre of music for improving sleep, as everyone’s musical preferences are different. However, some research has suggested that slower, more relaxed music may be more effective at helping people fall asleep and stay asleep. In general, music with a slow tempo (60-80 BPM) and soothing, calming tones may be most effective for improving sleep.
Some specific examples of genres that may be helpful for sleep include classical, ambient, and certain types of world music. These genres tend to have slower tempos, calming melodies, and relaxing instrumentation.
It’s important to note that the effectiveness of music for improving sleep may also depend on the individual. Some people may find that certain types of music help them relax and fall asleep more easily, while others may not have the same experience. It may be helpful to experiment with different genres and styles to see what works best for you. Additionally, it’s important to listen to music at a volume that is comfortable and not too loud, as this can be disruptive to sleep.
It turns out that your brain likes the same music that you do, whether it’s rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop, classical, reggae or jazz. For years, scientists thought only classical music lovers showed more intelligence and brain stimulation; this phenomenon was called the Mozart effect. But they found this wasn’t always true. Recent studies revealed that, when people with dementia hear music they listened to while growing up, their brains “light up” and they respond positively. This is called “emotional memory” which never goes away, even in Alzheimer’s patients. Many memories are connected to music.
So, the next time a song gives you chills, or makes you feel joyful – or melancholy, remember that music can actively change your mood and affects your brain in many constructive and wonderful ways. Imagine what life would be without music of any kind….no tunes to sing with in the car or shower, no songbirds, no Beatles. We sometimes take for granted the beauty of music. If you are a music aficionado and have embraced music as a hobby or vocation, you are helping to spread the joy of beautiful and healthful sounds that are deeply ingrained in our thoughts and lives.
Related Article Link: “Children’s Brains Develop Faster With Music Training”
