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Music has its place in health care; for example, music therapy, under the supervision of a trained therapist, can help patients suffering from psychological disorders or serious illnesses feel better. But simply listening to music at home can also bring many benefits. Here are five health benefits of music.
1. Music is motivating and fun
Music can convey positive emotions. It provides a feeling of pleasure by acting on the reward system, thanks to the dopamine neurons that release dopamine in the brain. One study showed that listening to music in the car had a positive effect on drivers' moods, proving that music softens the mood.
2. Music reduces stress and anxiety
Music is believed to help reduce elevated stress-related heart rate, high blood pressure and cortisol levels, all three of which are markers of stress. For example, in a 2009 study, the day after heart surgery, patients listened to 30 minutes of soft, relaxing MP3 music in bed; others rested in bed for the same amount of time. There was a significant difference in cortisol levels between the two groups after the 30 minutes: 484.4 mmol/L with music and 618.8 mmol/L in the controls. In another study, music was even more effective than an anxiolytic in reducing the anxiety of patients who had to undergo surgery.
3. Music helps with sports
In a British study, participants were asked to listen to music while walking on a treadmill until they were exhausted. Compared to people who did not listen to music, those who did the exercise to music had more endurance. Perhaps music affects motivation. Another hypothesis is that music distracts us from thinking about the effort.
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