Music Good For The Heart

[Dover]

Music to your ears? Music for your heart, too




WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Songs that make our hearts soar can make them stronger too, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

They found that when people listened to their favorite music, their blood vessels dilated in much the same way as when laughing, or taking blood medications.

"We have a pretty impressive effect," said Dr. Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

"Blood vessel diameter improved," he said in a telephone interview. "The vessel opened up pretty significantly. You can see the vessels opening up with other activities such as exercise." A similar effect is seen with drugs such as statins and ACE inhibitors.

When blood vessels open more, blood flows more smoothly and is less likely to form the blood clots that cause heart attacks and strokes. Elastic vessels also resist the hardening activity of atherosclerosis.

..snip..

Compared to their normal baseline measurements, blood vessel diameter increased 26 percent on average when the volunteers heard their joyful music. Listening to music they disliked -- in most cases in this group heavy metal -- narrowed blood vessels by six percent, Miller said.

cont'd

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081111/sc_nm/us_heart_music;_ylt=AhQgcSlkPCr8eg1D3GC7Uh2s0NUE




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[aquart]

1. Perry Como does that for me. Really.

[LaurenG]

2. There are even some commercials that do this for me

This is one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VrqAQJyPsc


and this is one that really makes me happy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A

[silverweb]

6. Jason Mraz!

He and Jack Jones do it for me, too. I can FEEL my body relaxing and my blood pressure going down. :D

[Dogmudgeon]

3. Nitric Oxide. Phosphodiesterase inhibition. Just like Viagra, baby!

:loveya: + :evilgrin: = :fistbump:

--p!
Lacking a music emoticon ...

[Systematic Chaos]

4. Never misunderestimate the power of the "Steely Dan" chord!

[silverweb]

5. Cool!

So pleasure is healthy. Who'da thunk?

Hmmm... I wonder if I'll hear any of the cardiologists I transcribe for prescribing "your favorite music" along with their preferred ACE inhibitors and statins.....