(With tracks) How music can affect your health

CAIRO – 11October 2017: Whoever and wherever you are, there is a great possibility that music is a big part of your life – whether you listen to it while commuting, working out, studying or even

starring at the sky

. However, most people think music is a generic part of the background noise, not knowing how much it can affect your mind and body.



Music as a traditional type of treatment: Music may elevate your mood to cheer you up, in the case of pop and dance music, or it can make you feel calmer and more relaxed, as is the case for classical music. Some forms of music are even used therapeutically, as Dr. Catherine Ulbricht from Psychology Today reports. Music from our cultural background may have therapeutic effects. For instance, the Chinese medical theory suggests that each of the internal organs responds positively to a specific musical tone that could help its healing process.



Music as a stress reliever: During a study in New York, the number of patients who were about to go into surgery were divided into two groups randomly – a group that listened to the music of their own selection before, during and after surgery, and a group that went through the experience in silence. The study showed that both groups went through the same average levels of stress just before surgery, but right after the surgery, the group that listened to music calmed down much quicker than those who went through the experience in silence; they also reported that listening to music during the surgery helped them feel relaxed, according to Harvard Health’s website.



Music as a mood elevator: A study done by neuropsychologist Daniel Levitin showed that listening to music activates the reward centers in the brain, which are usually activated when people feel accomplishment and satisfaction, such as the ventral tegmental area and the temporal lobe, according to the Daily Cardinal’s website.



Music as a sleep enhancer: Research has found that since music can relieve stress and anxiety, it can also help listeners have a better sleep pattern and quality of sleep, or it can even be used to treat insomnia in some cases, according to a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).