Let Music Therapy Conduct the Harmony of Your Health

<p>We might bicker endlessly about the style or artist, but music is so popular that it would be bizarre to hear someone say they didn’t care for it at all. Music is a universal language that transcends all cultural and linguistic barriers; it has been an integral part of civilization going back thousands of years.</p> <p>Its primary appeal is, of course, aesthetic and emotional, but music holds a significant sway over our physical and mental health too. This article delves into some of the intriguing effects that organized sounds can have on health, as supported by evidence.</p> <h2>Psychological benefits of music</h2> <h3>Stress reduction </h3> <p>You know it anecdotally, and it’s backed up by evidence: music is a solid stress-reduction tool, and studies have shown that it can lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone). Multiple studies have looked into using music as a way to calm people ahead of surgery, and papers have reported lower cortisol levels and anxiety when patients listen to some soothing tunes before going under the knife. </p> <p>One study even found that surgical patients who listened to some of Mozart’s sonatas during their operation required less sedation than non-listeners. </p> <h3>Improved mood and emotional health </h3> <p>Everyone knows that music is one of life’s great mood-lifters, and the right song can enhance happiness and optimism, while moodier variations may resonate with deeper feelings. This emotional resonance has been picked up by experts and turned into an entire field: music therapy. </p> <p>Music therapists harness the power of music as a means to help people suffering from depression and anxiety (among many other ailments). This therapeutic intervention has shown promising results in boosting mental health for people with various conditions.</p> <figure><img src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/VdKg6ZFwdK/thumbnail.png" alt="Your Brain on Music | Source: mohamed_hassan/Pixabay" /> <figcaption>Your Brain on Music. <em>Source: mohamed_hassan/Pixabay</em></figcaption> </figure> <h3>Enhanced cognitive performance </h3> <p>Have you ever heard of the “Mozart Effect”? While playing music to your unborn child to make them smarter might be nonsense, researchers have investigated how listening to music may affect cognitive function, or more specifically, spatial-temporal reasoning. </p> <p>The scientists were inspired by the fact that many musicians tend to have an unusual ability in mathematics. In a comparative test involving complex cutting and folding tasks and short-term memory, the team found that college students exposed to Mozart ahead of the test exhibited superior spatial reasoning.</p> <p>A neat finding, but note that the effect appeared to be only temporary. One theory is that listening to music may help to organize the firing of nerve cells in the right half of your brain (the part responsible for higher functions). You might think of it as a warm-up exercise for brain cells that allows them to process information more efficiently. </p> <h2>Physical health benefits of music</h2> <h3>Pain management </h3> <p>Music therapy is increasingly finding itself as an adjunct therapy in pain management programs to deliver non-pharmacological relief. For people suffering from chronic conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and post-surgical pain, there is research indicating that listening to music may be able to reduce the perception of pain.</p> <p>A 2022 paper in <em>The Journal of Pain </em>argued that music-based treatments have “emerged as an efficacious and safe means to enhance the management of acute and chronic pain.”</p> <h3>Cardiovascular health </h3> <p>Your heart is already fond of following beats, so it’s no wonder that music may positively impact this organ as well. While it’s still an emerging area of research, music therapy has found its way into helping to treat cardiovascular disease. Listening to music has shown strong potential for lowering stress, heart rate, and blood pressure.</p> <h3>Stroke recovery</h3> <p>Music therapy can help people recovering from a stroke to recover their ability to speak and move. Music has a widespread effect on the brain and cultivates a process called entrainment, which refers to the simultaneous activation of neurons in different brain regions. So, for example, when you hear a steady beat, it gets both your auditory and motor systems moving. </p> <p>Sometimes strokes leave people unable to move the muscles in their tongue or lips, inhibiting speech. Getting them to sing a familiar song with simple syllables instead of whole words can help to entrain motor nerves and recover speech abilities over time.</p> <h2>Social and developmental benefits</h2> <h3>Bonding and communication </h3> <p>Music fosters social connections and enhances communication. Choirs and bands promote teamwork and a sense of community, and for children, engaging in music activities improves social skills and emotional intelligence. </p> <figure><img src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/rA32kkS4qM/thumbnail.jpg" alt="Music Therapy | Source: Universitaetsmedizin" /> <figcaption>Music Therapy. <em>Source: Universitaetsmedizin</em></figcaption> </figure> <h3>Developmental advantages for children </h3> <p>Early exposure to music has been linked to numerous developmental benefits in kids. Musical training entwines with language development and may lead to better math skills, and playing an instrument is a positive for motor skills and hand-eye coordination.</p><h2>More on Music Therapy</h2><ul><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/wdl72zz04j-music-and-health" target="_blank">Music and Health: What You Need To Know</a></li><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/jn3ppzoirw-depression-and-complementary-health-approaches" target="_blank">Mind and Body Practices for Depression</a></li><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/oja822604w-complementary-and-alternative-medicine-in-cancer-care" target="_blank">Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Care</a></li></ul>