IF you love listening to music, you’re in good company. Charles
Darwin once remarked: “If I had my life to live over again, I would have
made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once
every week.” Albert Einstein declared: “If I were not a physicist, I
would probably be a musician.” Jimi Hendrix called music his “religion.”
Music is said to be food for the soul and, according to Joshua
Bolarinwa, a medical doctor at the University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin
(UITH), in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),
listening to it often is good for one’s health.
“Listening to music is a good antidote for reducing stress, which is
responsible for over 60 per cent of the diseases common to most
patients,” he said.
Music works on the autonomic nervous system, the part of the nervous
system responsible for controlling blood pressure, heartbeat and brain
function – and also the limbic system – the part of the brain that
controls feelings and emotions. According to one piece of research,
these systems react sensitively to music.
When slow rhythms are played, blood pressure and heartbeat slow down
which helps to breathe more slowly, thus reducing muscle tension in the
neck, shoulders, stomach and back. Experts say apart from physical
tension, music also reduces psychological tension in the mind.
In other words, when one feels pain, frightening, frustration and
anger tense up hundreds of muscles in the back. Listening to music on a
regular basis helps the body to, however, relax physically and mentally
and thus prevent back pain.
Experts say listening to music during exercise can give one better
workout in several ways. Scientists claim it can increase endurance,
boost mood and distract from any discomfort experienced during the
workout.
Dr Robert Herdegen of America’s Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia
looked at the effects of 12 men riding a bicycle for 10 minutes while
listening to music one day. He compared it to the same men riding
bicycles without music for 10 minutes the following day.
On the days the men exercised listening to music, they travelled 11
per cent further, compared to the days they did not listen to music.
Researchers also found that men’s levels of exertion were at their
lowest when listening to music. Other studies show that listening to
music releases endorphins – natural ‘feel good’ hormones that lift mood
and give motivation to carry on longer with exercise.
For many people suffering from memory loss, the spoken language has
become meaningless. Music can help patients remember tunes or songs and
get in touch with their history. This is because the part of the brain
which processes music is located next to memory. Research shows that
people with memory loss respond best to music of their choice.
Music can also make one happy. “I don’t sing because I’m happy; I’m happy because I sing,” says
William James. Research proves that when one listens to music of choice,
the brain releases dopamine, a “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Valorie
Salimpoor, a neuroscientist at McGill University, injected eight
music-lovers with a radioactive substance that binds to dopamine
receptors after they listened to their favorite music. A PET scan showed
that large amounts of dopamine were released, which biologically caused
the participants to feel emotions like happiness, excitement, and joy.
So the next time you need an emotional boost, listen to your favourite
tunes for 15 minutes. That’s all it takes to get a natural high.
“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of
humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture
we’re from,” says Billy Joel.
Listening to music one enjoys decreases levels of the stress hormone
cortisol in the body, which counteracts the effects of chronic stress.
