Lifestyle medicine is the foundation for optimum health. Music holds an important place in the history and social structure of every world culture. Music is one of the richest human emotional, sensorimotor, and cognitive experiences. Music is closely associated with other creative behaviours, such as dancing.
Music has numerous health benefits, including:
- Higher levels of wellbeing
- Cognitive function
- Brain stimulation
- Sense of purpose and fulfilment
- Good quality of life
- Social cohesion
- Empowerment
- Self-expression
- Personal development
- Positive wellbeing
- Improved motor skills
- Immune system enhancement
Music has been found to benefit people with stress, anxiety, and depression.
Listening to music has been found to improve subjective sleep quality in adults with insomnia symptoms.
Evidence indicates that listening to preferred music has beneficial effects in the areas of cardiac and neurological function, such as changes in heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and muscle tension.
Research confirms that listening to music for pleasure is related to a change in emotional arousal.
Music has been found to exert positive effects on physical activity.
Conclusion
Performing and listening to music has numerous health benefits, including higher levels of wellbeing, cognitive function, a sense of purpose and fulfilment, good quality of life, social cohesion, empowerment, self-expression, personal development, improved motor skills, immune system enhancement and reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression.
Reference: McEwen B. Music and Health. JATMS. 2022; 28(4):207-209