

A
new study finds that some types of operas and
classical music are perfectly synchronous with the
natural rhythm of the body, and thus can help reduce
blood pressure. Cardiologists find the research
promising and may encourage their patients to listen
to music.
♫ |
The
study was presented at the British Cardiovascular
Society conference in Manchester and took more than
20 years to complete. The research team led by
Professor Peter Sleight, a cardiologist from the
University of Oxford, asked study participants to
listen to music of different genres. They then
monitored participants’ blood pressure and heart
rate.
♪ |
The
slow music included "Va
Pensiero"
by
Verdi,
the aria "Nessun
Dorma"
from the opera
Turnadot and
Beethoven's
“Symphony
No.9” adagio.
Indian sitar music,
Vivaldi's “Four
Seasons”, and
a recording from the Red Hot Chili Peppers were also
played.
♫ |
The
researchers found that the music compositions by
Verdi
with recurrent 10-second rhythms are flawlessly in
sync with the natural changes in blood pressure and
subsequently decrease the heart rate.
Vivaldi's
piece did not cause any effects in the blood
pressure and heart rate, while the song from the
Red Hot Chili
Peppers
elevated the heart rate of the participants.
♪ |
The
responses of participants in all the songs were
similar, thus indicating that music that relaxes
individuals does not depend on whether the piece has
a calm or upbeat melody.
♫ |
Music is already being used commercially as a
calming therapy, but this has happened independent
of controlled studies into its effectiveness,
Sleight says. "Our research has provided improved
understanding as to how music, particularly certain
rhythms, can affect your heart and blood vessels".
♪ |
"We
know that stress can play a role in cardiovascular
disease so the calming effect of music may have some
potential as a therapy," says Jeremy Pearson,
associate medical director at the British Heart
Foundation. "However, as Professor Sleight points
out, more robust evidence is needed before we see
cardiologists prescribing a dose of Taylor Swift or
30 minutes of
Verdi
a day."
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Try Mozart or Brubeck!
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Mike Kohut, President, DDMS
TraxNews@datadancer.com

Copyright: 2015 by DDMS & iMobLife
All rights
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