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Why Is Music Important | Research Article | Good Days


Abstract: Music isn't just for enjoyment; it's showing promise in helping our health, particularly for people with heart problems. Different types of music might affect our heart and overall health. But here's the catch – we don't have enough high-quality research to fully understand how music can help our hearts. We're digging into the existing studies on music and the heart and highlight the imporant findings on using music as a way to improve our heart health.

Summary: People have always turned to music for enjoyment and relaxation, but it's becoming clear that music might have some serious health benefits too. Researchers have looked into how music influences our heart and overall well-being. Here's what they found:

1. Music's Beat Affects Heart Rate:
  • Research showed that the tempo or speed of music can directly impact your heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and blood pressure (BP). It's not about the type of music you like, but rather how fast or slow it is.
  • They did several studies with different types of music to check its effects on people's bodies.

2. Music and Body Rhythms:
  • Certain music tempos can synchronize your body rhythms, like your heart rate and breathing. So, the rhythm of the music you listen to might match your own body's rhythm.
  • Interestingly, this effect seems to depend on your personal preferences and mood. If you like the music and it resonates with your feelings, the impact can be stronger.

3. Music's Calming Effect:
  • Slow-tempo music often induces a sense of relaxation. This is because it helps shift your focus and release tension.
  • These "distracting effects" can be particularly helpful when people are anxious or stressed.

4. Singing Makes a Difference:
  • Singing also has a positive influence on heart rate variability (HRV). In simple terms, it helps improve the balance of your nervous system.
  • While listening to music is passive, singing actively engages your body with music.

5. Lowering Stress Hormones:
  • Studies found that listening to music can reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
  • Lower cortisol levels have been associated with better heart health and longer survival for individuals with certain health issues.

6. Positive Impact on Exercise:
  • Some exciting news for those who exercise: Music with the right tempo can make your workout feel easier. It reduces the perception of effort, meaning you might exercise for longer.
  • This is also influenced by personal music preferences. When you listen to songs you love during your workout, it's even more effective.

7. Slow Breathing and Meditation:
  • Slow, silent breathing and mindfulness practices may have effects on the heart rate and the balance of your nervous system similar to music.
  • These practices can be as impactful as, or sometimes even more than, music in certain cases.

8. Emotional Impact of Music:
  • The emotions you feel when listening to music can have a stronger effect on your heart than whether the music is happy or sad.
  • So, your mood while listening to music matters more than the type of music itself.

At Good Days, we want to give you some music therapy. While we await our live events in Madrid, enjoy our past concerts on Youtube!

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