If given the choice, which of the following would you prefer to use to improve your health--Mozart or medicine? How might you answer if you knew that Mozart is medicine? Stress levels are high in 2010 due to economic instability, unemployment, foreclosure rates and over-extended lifestyles. Antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications are being advertised and consumed in record numbers. Instead of popping a pill, try listening to some relaxing music and your health will benefit in many ways.
Relieves Stress
According to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA, the endocrine, system--which includes glands that secrete hormones, is responsible for regulating stress-related hormones. Sharing the load is your parasympathetic nervous system, or PNS, which controls automatic body functions. During the "fight or flight" response, breathing rate, heart rate and blood pressure rise as your body readies itself for danger. Situations that may cause this response include your boss calling you into his office, road rage, or the kids' continual whining. When you are in a state of relaxation, however, these functions slow down and your energy is saved for the next "attack." Soothing music can help increase PNS activity, and as a result, promote the relaxation response.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Most people are aware their blood pressure rises when they are agitated or stressed, but unaware that music can lower it. Music therapy is based on evidence that music can redirect the brain either to a state of excitement or a state of relaxation depending on what type of music you choose. According to Reuters news service, listening to one-half hour per day of classical, Celtic or Indian music can significantly lower blood pressure.
Dr.Pietro Modesti, a study investigator at the University of Florence, Italy, states "Sadly, despite global focus on prevention, it is predicted that 56 billion people worldwide will be hypertensive by the year 2025. In light of these devastating statistics, it is reassuring to consider something as simple, easy and enjoyable as daily music listening combined with slow, abdominal breathing, may help people naturally lower their blood pressure."
Lowers Heart Rate
Just as fast, rhythmic music can cause you to become excited and energetic to the point where your heart pounds, slow, rhythmic music can calm and slow your heart rate. The average heart rate of an adult is 72 beats per minute, so you should choose music that has a rhythm slower than that. Test yourself when you are agitated by counting your pulse and write it down. Put on some relaxing music, sit down, close your eyes and concentrate on the flow of the music and your breathing. After 5 minutes, recheck your pulse. You will see a substantial difference. By keeping your heart rate at a slower, steady pace, you will improve your brain, heart and lung functions.
Eases Muscle Tension
Pregnant women are encouraged in natural childbirth classes to bring relaxing music with them when it is time for labor. Music helps to guide breathing, concentration and natural pain control through the relaxation of muscles. Pain is more intense as the muscles tighten. Music that is calming encourages you to relax your neck, shoulders, arms, hands, legs and feet, which are all areas that can carry tension.
Relieves Emotions
Music can be powerful; you may hear a familiar song that instantly brings back memories, either good or bad, and those memories cause emotions that can affect your body, positively or negatively. If it makes you sad or is positively inspirational, it can cause you to cry, which is a great release and relief of tension. The same is true of music that makes you smile and feel happy--this will increase endorphin levels in your brain, which elevate your mood and calm your entire nervous, cardiac and respiratory systems.
