Music not only has health and mental benefits but it also has emotional benefits. A 2019 study from IIT Bombay suggest that melancholy music can boost emotional well being. It provides emotional support. Hence 21st June is celebrated as World Music Day to appreciate its power of healing.

Following are benefits of listening to music.

MENTAL BENEFITS

Music helps keeping anxiety and depression at bay. It is believed that it also improves attention levels, thereby enhancing learning, hence many students are seen playing music while studying. Areas of physical activities like gyms, yoga centers, meditation centre’s, zumba classes etc also take the help of music in big way. They feel that when one is into heavy training and exercising music helps divert the mind.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Music therapy has wide range of health benefits. It has both cardiological and neurological benefits. According to study done in Sion Hospital, Mumbai it is said to be good to treat hypertension. As per the study hypertensive individuals can benefit both by passive listening to the music and also by active music like drumming.

Further another research in Mumbai has used music for rehabilitation after a stroke. Sometimes the person loses ability to speak due to stroke but may be able to sing as right side of the brain is intact.

Its not only cardiological and neurological ailments but various other ailments of individuals of various ages can be treated with music therapy. It can be used for in various medical conditions like diabetes, headache, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, rheumatism, physical handicaps, sensory impairments, developmental disabilities, and aging.

It also helps in reducing chronic stress. Music is also known to reduce fatigue. A research by Jin Hyung Lee of Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul, South Korea which has been mentioned in Journal of Music therapy is that music may lesser acute or chronic pain related to cancer and other conditions. A recent research published in the European Journal Cancer Care studied breast cancer patients assigned to 30 minutes of music listening five times a week.

They inferred that it reduced side effects of cancer and its treatment. A research in UK found kids who received music therapy had reduced depression and boosts self esteem in those who were being treated for emotional problems. A new research in University of East Anglia UK claimed singing in group can make you happier and improve your mental health as it promotes an ongoing feeling of belonging and well being. Music is also known to reduce fatigue.