Cardiovascular disease patients health improved listening to music
Cardiovascular disease patients quailty of life are greatly improved simply listening to their favourite music
Current studies have discovered that listening to music could actually help men and women recovering from cardiovascular disease to significantly strengthen their heart.
Cardiologists from the Institute of Cardiology, University of Nis, Serbia, explained the findings indicate that individuals could very well improve the over all health of their hearts by simply listening to their preferred music.
74 Patients who suffer from cardiovascular disease were separated into three groups. One group of patients were enrolled in physical exercise classes lasting for three weeks.
The next group of patients happened to be enrolled in the very same class, the only difference being they were required to listen to music of their choice for a recommended thirty minutes every day, at a time of their choosing.
The final group of patients did not take part in any exercise classes, which is in most cases strongly recommended to individuals struggling with cardiovascular disease, and they simply listened to the music.
The results of the study
The initial group that only exercised, improved their physical capability by 29 percent which would be in most cases expected.
The next group of patients that did not exercise in any way and simply listened to their most pleasurable music for thirty minutes every day considerably improved their physical capability by 19 percent.
The final group of patients who also included cardiovascular workout routines in addition to listening to their own favourite music increased crucial heart measures of heart function and greatly improved their ability to engage in physical activity by an impressive 39 percent.
The study identified that the measures of improved cardiovascular function included improved endothelial function, which happens to be necessary to maintain the body’s vascular response.
The conclusions, presented during the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Amsterdam, proposed that the release of key hormones while listening to music appeared to be behind the changes.
There is no ‘best music’ for everyone
Lead investigator Prof Delijanin Ilic, stated “When we listen to music we enjoy, then endorphin’s are released from the brain and this improves our vascular health. There is no ‘best music’ for everyone – what matters is what the person likes and makes them happy.”
Professor llic mentioned various other studies investigating the effects of music suggest that some musical styles such as heavy metal for example are more inclined to increase stress levels, while classical music, opera or joyous music was in fact most likely to stimulate endorphin’s.
She pointed out “It is also quite possible that it is better to have music without any words, because it is possible that the words themselves may very well upset the emotions.”
Even though the research was carried out on patients affected by cardiovascular disease, she said she believed the findings were likely to apply to a greater population, due to the fact it is already acknowledged that physical activity boosts coronary health in healthy people.
Professor llic stated “Listening to your favourite music alone in addition to regular exercise training improves endothelial function and therefore may be a highly effective method in the rehabilitation of patients with coronary heart disease. There is no ‘ideal’ music for everyone and patients should choose music which increases positive emotions and also makes them happy or relaxed.”
