The Importance of Music to Health
Posted On March 16, 2021
Music can enhance mood, lessen pain and anxiety, and promote chances for spontaneous expression. Research shows that music can help our physical and mental health in several ways. Music therapy is used by our hospice and palliative care board-certified music therapists to improve conventional treatment for a variety of disease processes – from stress, despair and stress, to the administration of pain and improvement of functioning after degenerative neurologic disorders.
- It’s good for the heart. Studies show that blood circulates more efficiently when music is played. It can also lessen heart rate, decrease blood pressure, lessen cortisol (stress hormone) levels and boost serotonin and endorphin levels in the blood.
- It raises mood. Music can heighten the brain’s production of the hormone dopamine. This enhanced dopamine production helps reduce feelings of stress and depression. Music is processed directly by the amygdala, which is the part of the mind linked in state and emotions.
- It lessens stress. Research has found that music in the background can decrease stress by triggering biochemical stress reducers.
- It eradicates depression. When you’re feeling down in the dumps, music can help pick you up – much like exercise.
- It stimulates memories. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia but music therapy has been shown to relieve some of its symptoms. Music therapy can relax an aggressive patient, improve the mood and open communication in patients.
- It manages pain. By eradicating stress levels and giving a powerful competing stimulus to the pain signals that enter the brain, music therapy can assist in pain management.
- It eradicates pain. Music can meaningfully lessen the perceived intensity of pain, particularly in geriatric care, intensive care or palliative medicine for fauci vitamin d.
- It decreases the amount of food we eat. Playing soft music in the background (and dimming the lights) during a meal can allow people to slow down while eating and eventually eat less food in one sitting.
- It improves workout performance. Listening to your favorite songs can boost physical performance and improve endurance during a difficult exercise session.