A surprising new study reveals that singing songs can improve your health. What shocked cardiologist researchers however, was what song helped the most.
The classic hymn “Amazing Grace” can apparently do wonders for the body, as well as the soul.
A medical study of 65 older patients with a history of coronary artery disease found that 30 minutes of singing along to a video with a voice professor improved blood vessel function. Participants who sang along with ”Amazing Grace” saw the largest impact, more than those who sang along to “Hey Jude,” “Jolene” and “This Land is Your Land.”
“Amazing Grace” is a beloved Christian hymn written by John Newton in 1772, celebrated for its powerful message of redemption and divine grace. Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee conducted the study. The study’s goal was not primarily to identify which songs had the greatest impact but rather to determine whether singing itself positively affected the health of older patients. Participants chose their own music.
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“Singing should be considered as an accessible and safe therapeutic intervention in an older population who otherwise may have physical or orthopedic limitations hindering participation in traditional exercise,” the study said.
The study included patients between 55 and 79 years old with a history of coronary artery disease. The average age was 67.7 years old. Researchers noted that only 15.3 percent of men and 10.8 percent of women aged 65 and older nationally meet the recommendations for physical activity. The study suggested that music may be an alternative for elderly patients, particularly those who have physical limitations.
The rate at which blood circulates through the body gives vital clues to the health of the major blood vessels supplying the heart with oxygen-rich blood.
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“Music as a therapeutic is attractive for a variety of reasons, including minimal risk to patients, ease of use, accessibility and pervasiveness across cultures,” the study said. “The physiological demands of singing are comparable with walking at a moderately brisk pace, suggesting that the health benefits of singing may overlap with that of exercise. Unlike traditional physical exercise, the impact of singing on cardiovascular health has not been extensively studied.”
The 30-minute sing-along video included a voice professor playing the piano and directing an elderly student in singing. Researchers said the impact of singing on cardiovascular health had “not been extensively studied, and the new research was designed to investigate the effect of singing on cardiovascular biomarkers in an aging population with coronary artery disease.
‘The physiological demands of singing are comparable with walking at a moderately brisk pace and we found that Amazing Grace had the largest effect size,’ the researchers added.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice