Soothing the heart

If you have coronary heart disease, the arteries that carry blood to your heart are narrowed with fatty deposits. This is a serious condition that can lead to a heart attack if your heart doesn't get enough blood. Many people are understandably anxious about their disease, and worry about their future. If their stress is severe, this can actually worsen their condition by raising their heart rate and blood pressure, as well as their heart's demand for oxygen.

Many studies have suggested that listening to music can help people with heart disease reduce stress and its effects on the body. But it's difficult to draw firm conclusions from these studies, as most have been small. Now researchers have combined the results of the best studies to get a clearer idea of whether listening to music can help.

The researchers found 23 studies that included 1,461 people with heart disease. In all of the studies, people were randomly selected to receive music treatment or no music treatment in addition to their regular care. The music treatment usually involved listening to CDs supplied by researchers. In two studies, however, music therapists provided the treatment.

Overall, the researchers found that people who listened to music were less anxious than those who did not. The effect was strongest among those who'd recently had a heart attack, with their anxiety dropping to low levels after listening to music. People's blood pressure and heart rate were also lower after a music session. And their level of pain and rate of breathing was slightly reduced. The study also suggests music may be more helpful if patients pick the playlist. If you have heart disease, listening to music may reduce your anxiety, and lower your blood pressure and heart rate. You might also find you enjoy it.

The Guardian