fast music can cause stress, slow music helps relax
Music cannot replace medicine for treating high blood pressure, but it can become a part of a health care plan. Scientists find that fast and loud music can easily trigger the emotional nervous system, which is associated with a stress response, causing blood pressure and heart rate to temporarily increase.
In contrast, gentle music with slow beats activates the epopathological nervous system, slowing down the heart rate and helping to lower blood pressure. Slow-rate music is like a natural relaxation technique, which helps reduce stress and support blood pressure control, says Dr. neverib Imtiaz, a medical doctor and digital health expert in the UK.
A 2021 study found that people who listened to music and relaxed for 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks had a 7% reduction in subjective blood pressure. This proves that listening to music regularly can bring significant results.
Session, personal preferences, and listening duration are also important
Not only the tempo, the sound of music also affects blood pressure. A 2024 study shows that music at a very high volume can increase blood pressure, while listening at a low volume has the opposite effect.
Personal interests are also a factor to note. For those unfamiliar with classical music, listening to a strange song sometimes increases blood pressure by creating an uncomfortable feeling. Meanwhile, for those who love this genre, classical music can help relax effectively.
In addition, the listening duration also determines the effectiveness. The longer and more often you listen to relaxing music, the more obvious the impact of reducing blood pressure is. Many experts recommend combining music therapy with a healthy diet, exercise and stress management for sustainable results.
Music therapy is not a substitute for medicine, but can be a useful supplement for people with pre-existing high blood pressure or hypertension, says Dr. Robert Hopkins Jr., medical director at the National Endocrinological Foundation for Infectious Diseases (USA).
Not everyone reacts the same
Some studies have shown that people with normal blood pressure react more strongly to the effects of music than people with high blood pressure. However, this does not mean that music is less effective for patients, but shows that they need to combine more comprehensive treatment measures, including medication, a healthy lifestyle and stress management.
For people with pre-hypertension, music therapy can help prevent the progression to chronic hypertension.
Music, although only productive and modest, is still a simple, cheap and easy-to-use tool to support heart health.
