Music and its healing wonders have been no myth for a while — but in the latest study published by scientists, it is suggested that listening to music reduced stress levels, indicated by a lower heart rate and a lowered perception of pain.
With 3,736 studies filtered to 35 papers, scientists were able to find links between improved patient outcome and listening to music — along with other factors like lower pain medication and opioid use.
This calming effect is thought to result from lowered cortisol levels, which can help decrease inflammation and stress responses — leading to potentially faster recovery times. Surgical patients who listened to music experienced a greater sense of relaxation, with some using half the morphine that they would use without the presence of music in their ambience.
“Although we can’t specifically say they’re in less pain, the studies revealed that patients perceive they are in less pain,” Shehzaib Raees, one of the authors of the new report, was quoted as saying.
The yet-to-be peer-reviewed research results, presented at ACS Clinical Congress 2024, face drawbacks like no control over variables like how long the patients in the study listened to music.
Generally speaking, music creates a comforting atmosphere that helps patients feel more at ease, especially during critical stages like post-op care. Music therapy in recovery rooms is recommended as a simple yet effective intervention; and with a minimal cost to introduce music into the healing atmosphere, who knows, your hospital visit could be shorter than it otherwise would’ve been!
Checkout the latest news: Watch: Jung Kook of BTS Sets the Stage Ablaze with Epic Performance and Global Solo Debut
