10 Health Benefits of Music

Isn't it fascinating how listening to a certain music may bring back a specific memory or make you feel happy, peaceful, or revved up? People are born with the ability to distinguish between music and noise. Our brains actually have separate pathways for processing various aspects of music, such as pitch, melody, rhythm, and pace. Fast music can also raise your heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure, whereas slower music has the opposite impact.

While the effects of music on people are not entirely understood, studies have shown that when you listen to music that you enjoy, the brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which has a good influence on mood. Music has the ability to evoke intense feelings such as joy, grief, or fear—some will say that music has the ability to move us. Some studies believe that music has the potential to boost our health and well-being.

Though additional research is needed to validate the potential health advantages of music, several studies indicate that listening to music can have the following health benefits.

Improves mood: According to research, listening to music can improve general well-being, assist manage emotions, and produce happiness and relaxation in daily life.
Reduces stress: Listening to'relaxing' music (usually defined as having a slow tempo, low tone, and no lyrics) has been demonstrated to lower stress and anxiety in both healthy persons and those undergoing medical treatments (e.g., surgery, dental, colonoscopy).
Lessens anxiety: In trials of cancer patients, listening to music in addition to regular care lowered anxiety compared to those who only received standard care.
Improves exercise: According to research, music can improve aerobic activity, promote mental and physical stimulation, and improve overall performance.
Improves memory: According to studies, the repeating features of rhythm and melody assist our brains build patterns that improve memory. A study of stroke survivors found that listening to music helped them have stronger verbal recall, less confusion, and more focused attention.
Eases pain: In studies of patients recovering from surgery, those who listened to music before, during, or after surgery reported less pain and higher overall satisfaction than those who did not listen to music as part of their treatment.
Provides comfort: Music therapy has also been used to improve communication, coping, and expression of emotions such as fear, loneliness, and rage in patients with terminal illnesses.
Improves cognition: Music can also assist Alzheimer's patients recollect seemingly lost memories and even keep some mental functions.
Helps children with autism spectrum disorder: Music therapy improved social reactions, communication abilities, and attention skills in children with autism spectrum condition in studies.
Soothes premature babies: Live music and lullabies have been shown to improve feeding behaviours and sucking patterns in premature newborns, as well as lengthen intervals of quiet-alert states.

Dominick’s story

Dominick Albano, a pharmacist and Pfizer's Vice President of Global Medical Information, is passionate about music. "I've been playing guitar for 35 years," Dominick explains. "It's always been my personal method of expressing myself creatively. Music serves as a source of balance, stress relief, and enjoyment in my life."

Dominick took guitar lessons in high school but eventually stopped. However, Dominick understood within his first two months of pharmacy school that he needed something to balance out the largely science-based instruction. "I started taking guitar lessons again because I needed a feeling of balance in my life. "I wanted to immerse myself in the knowledge I'd need for my job while also fostering my creative side."

Dominick now credits music with assisting him in maintaining his general well-being. "Being healthy does not simply imply the absence of an ailment or medical condition. That is far from the case. People, too, require a sense of well-being. That's where music and the arts may help—at least for me."

"I believe that extending my creative muscles through music enables me to think differently and to be a better problem solver," Dominick says of music's positive impact on his profession. Dominick suggests broadening your musical horizons by listening to or playing music that isn't familiar to you.

Dominick sees music as a healthy choice that people can employ to help them cope with stress or worry. "You don't have to play an instrument to benefit from music's health advantages, though you can." He suggests shutting off the television (which can sometimes cause stress) and listening to nice or calming music in the background while doing your daily chores, such as cooking or exercising.