Can music protect the heart ?

Pleasant music has a positive effect not only on our mental health, but also can improve heart function. This is a study that was presented at the last Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in Amsterdam.

With beautiful music we get a “warm feeling” almost literally. As American researchers recently reported, pleasant music can improve vascular function in patients with coronary artery disease. You can get even better results if you combine pleasant music with special exercises.

“In the case of cardiovascular disease was lost the to functionality of endothelium, which is the inner wall of blood vessels” explained one of the study authors. Endothelium of the vessels plays an important role in the formation of nitric oxide (NO). Today the improvement of endothelial function is an most important goal of therapy in coronary patients.” Therefore the researchers want to find out how to listening of music can improve endothelial function.

Combining of music and sport works best.

The study were included 74 patients with coronary heart disease. Using various biomarkers such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and xanthine oxidase (XO) was measured their endothelial function. Then, the subjects were divided into three groups. While one group had to undergo to a specific fitness training, the second group performed the same training program and in addition heard music by their own choice every day for 30 minutes. The remaining participants were listen only music without sporting activities.

After three weeks the NOx and CO levels were measured. It was found that the values has improved mostly in participants of the group who had completed both the music and the movement program. In the pure sports group has identified improving by 39 percent, 29 percent in combined group, and only 19 percent in the music group.

“That listening to music contributes to an improvement in endothelial function with the release of endorphins and have to do their effect on NO production” said researchers. It is only important that the music will perceived by patients as pleasant and relaxing.