Music Makes Us Feel Better

Listening to your favorite music can have positive health benefits.

At Bluerock Care, we love music, any kind of music. Yes, we know that's a lyric from an old-school dance party record. (But, can you name it?)

Music can influence our physical and emotional health, moment to moment, and now multiple studies point toward the health benefits of music. As summer begins this month, we should take a moment to recognize African American music artists and reflect on the benefits their music brings to so many in our community. Music is a beautiful form of expression that almost anyone can enjoy and reap health benefits.

Here are five ways that studies suggest music may contribute to our healthier living:

1. Music Reduces Stress, Anxiety

Studies of people who listened to calming music showed improvements in pain reduction from recent surgeries or anxiety-induced stress. Specifically, many study participants who listened to music saw decreases in heart rates and systolic blood pressure levels when music was introduced to calm them during stressful situations.

2. Music Decreases Pain 

Multiple studies suggest that listening to music helps to reduce our brains’ focus on physical pain. Findings suggest that we especially benefit from listening to familiar music. These positive effects occur because of an increase in dopamine levels in our brains.

3. Music Affects Immune Functioning

Some interesting studies suggest there may be a connection between music appreciation and our immune systems. The studies suggest that listening to music may enhance proteins in the body that help to either fight off or prevent the advancement of diseases. This seems to occur at least partially because of the positive impact music can have on our stress response.  

4. Music Improves Exercise

Study participants were monitored while listening to music, or not, during their exercise routine. The findings showed participants who listened to music increased the intensity of their exercise, exceeded their target heart rates, and had higher levels of stamina.