A couple of years ago, I was music terrorized by my hairdresser. When asked to replace the crashes and bellows of the radio with something more civilized, she immediately put on an even worse sounding CD. After that, I asked her to turn off the noise completely and begun to tell her about a recent study, carried out in a supermarket. It had been discovered that music had a calming effect on elderly people in particular, however as the music got more intense they would leave the store in a hurry. The style of music was also very visible through the content of the shopping carts.

Few things can create a bad atmosphere as effectively as the wrong music, or simply music at the wrong time. But what about pleasant music? Could it even be good for your health – better than medicines? There are many indications that this is the case and today, music is being used in e.g. rehabilitation.

In a document containing a collection of studies on culture and health (the Swedish National Institute of Public Health, 2005), music is mentioned as a method of treatment for depression, tiredness and mood swings.

Other studies show that music therapy provides cancer patients with a greater sense of control, alleviates their pain and reduces physical and psychological problems (Stuckey & Nobel, 2010). It can also speed up the healing process of the brain after a stroke (Theorell, 2010).

High blood pressure, insomnia and pain are other problems that may partially be cured by music, according to scientists at the Berklee College of Music. A fresh study shows that music of the right kind can activate happy past memories, causing the heart and respiration rate to slow down and subsequently lowering blood pressure.

The results regarding insomnia are in line with research from the Tzu-Chi General Hospital in Taiwan. According to this, elderly people that got to listen to soft piano music would experience a 35% increase in sleep length and quality.

Pain, finally, cannot be completely counteracted by music. However, The Journal of Advanced Nursing reports that arthritis patients who listened to music for twenty minutes per day, experienced significantly less pain than patients who merely sat still in a quiet environment.

Naturally, there is a difference in how individuals respond to the same piece of music and all music isn’t necessarily good for your health. However, there is plenty of evidence of fast music making us eat faster, quiet music acting in a calming way et c. Here is a list of different music styles and how they influence us, according to scientists:

Classical music has been known to reduce stress even for those who would normally prefer a different genre. It can also contribute to improved verbal capacity and is said to create a good environment for thinking. During a study in Hong Kong on 90 boys between 6 and 15 years, researchers found that those who played in the school string orchestra were better at learning new words than those who didn’t get any musical education. Classical music can also lower the heart rate and, consequently, be beneficial in fighting cardiovascular disease.

Country & western has been linked to depression and suicide. James Gundlach, Professor of Sociology, discovered that country music fans had a higher suicide rate than others. Above all, it was the older kind of country music that would trigger suicidal tendencies since it has a more pessimistic message than modern varieties.

Rock music gives a greater adrenaline rush than other genres but involuntary listeners can experience irritation, increased heart rate and raised blood pressure. During a study, scientists found that a group of mice that had listened to rock music became confused, resulting in an inability to find their way out of a maze. Some researchers claim that rock lovers are more prone to take drugs, be unfaithful and commit suicide than others. Whether this is true or not, I wouldn’t like to say, however I do urge you to choose your music with care – especially if someone else is going to listen to it!

It is also wise to take care of your ears in the best possible way, in order to be able to enjoy music during a long, healthy life. According to scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, a combination of vitamins A, C and E along with magnesium can counteract hearing loss. Senior physician Jan Grenner at the University Hospital of Skåne agrees that vitamin C protects the ears, both before and after the damage has been done. At a study made in Nigeria last year, it was also concluded that a lack of folic acid is a common cause of hearing problems. Folic acid can be found in Hairology Multi Vitamins, vitamin C is the main ingredient in Acerola Drink and magnesium is one of many nutrients in Multi Minerals.

So, what happened then at my hairdressers’? Well, she got some CDs from me with mixed classical and quiet music. The result was instant! During my next visit I was told that the customers had appreciated the cosy atmosphere that the music created in the salon. In other words, I wasn’t the only one who could relax and enjoy my visit.

Wishing you a pleasant and melodious autumn, Endre.


Regards, Endre Kvanta