Can Learning Music Affect Your Blood Pressure?

Music is able to soothe the savage beast, at least as far as popular sayings go.
That’s not all it can do, though. According to some studies, music might have some real benefits for those who play instruments. Understanding why means taking a closer look at how music interacts with the body and mind.

The Musical Connection

The fact that music can make a person healthier is already fairly well known. Studies have shown, for example, that listening to Mozart can help reduce one’s blood pressure.

There’s certainly something that is generally soothing about music, so it should come as no surprise that engaging with the art form is somehow beneficial. What’s more impressive, though, is the fact that the body seems to differentiate between different types of music. It is only music of certain tempos, for example, that has a beneficial effect on one’s blood pressure. This connection leads to the next logical step – figuring out how actively participating in music changes one’s body.

The Study

According to at least one study from the Netherlands, the blood pressure rates of musicians tends to be higher than those of those their non-musical counterparts. Likewise, the overall resting heart rate of a musician tends to be lower than that of an equally healthy peer.

Why? Scientists aren’t quite sure, but they believe that it has something to do with the generally higher level of nerve activity related to the practice of playing music.

Related: 4 Ways Learning Piano Benefits Your Brain

While this can increase stress in the short-term, there is evidence to suggest that the long-term benefits of learning music on stress can be very pronounced. It only takes a few hours a day of practice for those in the test to see the benefits, but they are significant.

Promoting Better Health

Perhaps it’s safest to say that a musically-inclined mind can do great things for a person. It doesn’t just affect one’s blood pressure – it might even have close links to staving off dementia or helping to promote better vein health. According to Intermountain Vein Center, poor blood flow can result in increased pressure and “venous reflux,” which can cause painful and unsightly vein issues all the time.

The study of mind-body connection, and music’s role in it, is still in its infancy. While studies are still ongoing to figure out all of the benefits of playing music, it is perhaps the impact on the attitude of the individual that is most important. Musically-inclined individuals are given the chance to create something beautiful with their own hands, which in turn can have amazing effects on the psyche, which can manifest themselves in physiological effects, as well.

It seems that playing music can have a great impact on the body. Even if your blood pressure isn’t a problem, it might be a good idea to look into the impact that playing music can have on your life. If you’re ready to start enjoying these benefits, start learning now with this simple interface!

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