Why Music is Magical for Your Heart

After we published a study that found joyful music to dilate blood vessels (as reported by Reuters, the Star, and other media outlets), advances continue to be made toward understanding why music has magical medicinal properties to benefit your heart and overall health.   If you have the opportunity to listen to a favorite artist perform live on stage (as we did when Paul McCartney, as shown above, toured our area), seize it because listening to music that brings you joy a key to good health because:

1. Joyful Music uplifts Mood: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and hormone that brings feelings of pleasure.  Recent studies have identified specific areas in the brain that are activated to release dopamine not only when joyful music is played, but also in its anticipation.   In other words,  when you anticipate that the song is about to be played or you’re listening to the first few notes, dopamine is activated from one area; as the song is played, the familiarity activates another dopamine center so you can get a double-dose of dopamine!
2. Music may Improve Cognition:  Listening to music may improve mental focus with greater ability to multitask.  A recent study also found that listening to music combined with physical activity was better than physical activity alone for brain processing activities in older men and women.
3. Playing an Instrument Reduces Risk of Dementia: Playing an instrument reduces the risk of vascular dementia by improving neuroplasticity (or flexibility) of the brain enabling increased ability to listen with greater focus and improved ability to perform and engage in new tasks.
4. Bottom Line: Dust off those old LPs, CDs, guitars, etc and play or listen to your favorite songs.  Or better yet, make a playlist of your favorite music (such as on Spotify), shuffle the songs and enjoy!
5. Michael Miller, MD is Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland  and author of “Heal Your Heart: The Positive Emotions Prescription to Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease“.