Medical use of music is a very interest-piquing field.
It seems far-fetched, but recent advances in science have proved the worth of earlier theories.
One example is the use of soothing music in the recovery of bypass surgery patients.
Blood pressure levels returned to normal quite easily.
A similar effect is utilized in the caretaking of infants.
Mothers and nurses are often instructed to hum gently to premature infants.
Babies who were given this treatment grew to healthy, normal weights far faster.
It is also utilized for Alzheimer's patients, who grow notoriously angry and violent in deeper stages of their illness.
Music often is the only viable option to soothe or calm them.
All this ties directly into emotional effects of music.
It can be inferred that if music can calm or increase your happiness, it is probably quite good for your health.
Some types of music can also be detrimental.
Rock or metal concerts are good examples.
Prolonged exposure to sound that high in dB can cause permanent damage.
Music such as that can also make you quite angry.
The tone of songs by bands like Rage Against the Machine has been shown to spike adrenaline levels in blood.
Of course, listeners to groups like that often quite aggressive by default, so this is to be taken with a grain of salt.
In addition, music such as hip-hop and its stylistic forebears are often heavy in lyrical content.
This may unrelatedly cause anger or other emotions that may be considered undesirable.
Overall, however, music for medical purposes is no new subject.
Just take a breath and recall those projects you did in primary school.
Unfortunately, humans don't respond the same way to this as plants do.
(Think hours of elevator music, then think about your reaction.)
Try to relax.
©2006 anthony, christina, and teresa