November 18, 2008 – It is known that hearing your favorite song makes your heart light and happy. And a little healthier, according to a study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine1.
Researchers have found that the positive feelings experienced when listening to our musical favorites have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. Listening to his favorite song would stimulate the secretion of endorphin which, in turn, acts on the blood vessels causing them to dilate.
Researchers compared the effect of different music in 10 participants2. They selected and listened to their favorite music as well as music they found stressful. They were also asked to listen to relaxing music and tapes of comedy shows or films.
The result: Favorite music resulted in a 26% widening of the diameter of the blood vessels, which promotes good blood circulation. Stressful music, for its part, shrunk the vessels by 6% while relaxing music caused dilation of 11%.
As for the comedy shows, they apparently don’t just dilate the spleen; the blood vessels of those who listened to it widened by 19%. This result corroborates a study conducted by the same researchers in 2005 who concluded that laughter as well as positive emotions have a positive effect on vascular health.
Classical, punk, jazz or heavy metal? The only criterion that matters to benefit from this beneficial effect on the heart is to listen to music that we like and that makes us happy. All tastes are in nature…
Claudia Morissette – HealthPassport.net
According to Radio-Canada.
1. The results of the study were released on November 11, 2008 at the American Heart Association Scientific Meetings in New Orleans.
2. Seven men and three women, aged 23 to 56, with an average age of 36 years. All were non-smokers and in good health.