Music and Health

Last Christmas I got a new cell phone with Pandora radio and an MP3 player on it. I've been listening to a variety of music lately and it has been very interesting to see how different musical styles or genres effect my mood. Obviously, ones personal preference, upbringing, and tastes play a role in how music affects them, but so does the actual music they listen to.

I once heard of a study that tested the effects of music on strength. Participants who listened to heavy metal music while lifting weights were able to lift more weight initially, but those who listened to classical music had more strength endurance over time and didn't tire as quickly. I don't know how accurate that is, or if the study was even legitimate, but I do know that music affects our mood, and our mood in turn affects our health.

When I hear music that I listened to as a teenager, It sometimes conjures up memories and feelings I felt when I was 17 and I could swear it makes me feel younger and gives me energy. Music that is fast paced and loud tends to energize people. Some examples are the theme from Rocky, Eye of the Tiger, and the Mission Impossible theme song. Slow music that people listen to while meditating, doing yoga, or getting a massage does the opposite and has a calming affect. I know serious runners don't run marathons while listening to music, but posers like me use music for motivation. This morning I ran a 5K race and chose songs on my play list that had a strong consistent beat, which helped me maintain a steady pace when I got tired.

Music can affect our mood, breathing, heart rate, and brain waives. Last year there was an article in TIME magazine which told how different types of music affected patients during surgery. When the US marines invaded Panama, they blasted Noriega with music like Twisted Sister for a couple days until he gave up and came out of his compound. Many people would classify listening to certain styles of music they don't enjoy as torture. Does the music you listen to uplift, refresh, and make you feel better, or does it numb you and wear you down? Just a thought. I'm amazed at how many people I see at the gym who are wearing earphones while they work out. There must be something to it.