A Woman’s Heart, Music and the Beat of Your Heart

By Mary Kyle Blogger

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Personally, I love music. I’m a musician and have to admit that music is and always has been a passion of mine. Whether I’m teaching, performing, singing, playing or writing, there is nothing (next to my family and faith) that evokes quite so much pleasure and joy in my life. In many ways, music completes me and I’ve found that it has a power to heal a multitude of ills and attitudes. I am, naturally, quite prejudiced when it comes to music. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience and enjoy music as much as I do whether it’s singing and playing professionally or simply singing in the shower or jamming with friends around a campfire. When it comes to music, it’s all good!

Because of my love of music, I found myself quite intrigued when I saw a headline indicating that music, specifically “joyful” music, may provide a benefit to promoting a healthy heart and lower ones risk of heart disease. Could we really sing or listen our way to a healthy heart? I had to know more!

Since the rise of behavioral cardiology as a discipline, many researchers are beginning to explore the mind-body link in more detail and examine how our emotional well-being, happiness, sadness, depression, reactions to stress, positive attitude or outlook, and anxiety may impact our heart health and health in general. The University of Maryland School of Medicine conducted a small but intriguing study on something near and dear to my heart, music, and how listening to it may impact our heart health both positively and negatively.

As mentioned, the study was small and consisted of ten persons. Thirty percent of the participants were women and the median age was 36 years. The study consisted of a four separate and distinct phases, each of which involved listening to music or watching videos and then measuring the physical reactions to the sessions. Two of the sessions consisted of music that was participant selected. The remaining two sessions consisted of music selected by the research staff. The phases were as follows:

Phase 1, Participant Selected Music - Joyful. In this phase, the participants selected music which they felt made them happy or “joyful.”

Phase 2, Participant Selected Music – Anxious. In this phase, participants were asked to select music to listen to which they felt would make them feel anxious.

Phase 3, Relaxation. Participants listened to music selected by the research staff which was designed to promote a state of relaxation.

Phase 4, Laughter. Participants watched a video which was specifically meant to invoke laughter.

The order for each of the phases was random by participant. Before each phase of testing, participants were required to fast overnight. They were also prohibited for a period of two weeks prior to the testing from listening to any of their favorite music. Before the start of each test, participants were given a baseline test to measure flow-mediated dilation, that is, a test that measures the amount of blood vessel dilation and how the inner lining of the blood vessels (endothelium) is responding to the music. Once the baselines were established, participants listened to music or watch the video for 30 minutes at which time the measurements were repeated. Altogether, each participant had a total of 16 measures which amount to 160 dilation tests each.

At the end of the study, researchers found that listening to music impacted the blood vessel dilation both positively and negatively. Music which made the participants feel anxious was found to cause the inner lining of the blood vessels to constrict by six percent from the baseline, reducing the blood flow to the heart. Conversely, music which evoked a positive or happy emotional response in the participants was found to cause the inner lining in blood vessels to dilate by 26 percent (impressive!) and increase the blood flow to the heart. Relaxation and laughter also showed a positive impact with an 11 percent increase in blood vessel dilation after listening to relaxing music and a 19 percent increase after watching the laughter video.

Researchers don’t fully understand the mind-body connection so more studies are certain to be on the horizon. Until then, I’m smiling! I’ve always known music was good for the soul. It’s nice to know that it may do a body good as well! So go ahead and crank up that radio or plug in that iPod. Not only will you be doing your emotions a favor, but you just may be helping your heart too.

Just a side note, country music is all about cheating and dying, crying and lying, so I found it quite interesting that the number one music which seemed to bring about the state of “joy” was country music! Hank (Williams, the father of country music) would have been so proud!

Until next time, here’s wishing you a healthy heart.

Source:
Joyful Music May Promote Heart Health, According to University of Maryland School of Medicine Study, University of Maryland Medical Center, 10 Nov 2008, http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/music-cardiovascular.htm

Marlene Busko, Music, like laughter, benefits heart health, Theheart.org, 14 Nov 2008, http://www.theheart.org/article/921307.do

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.