Dear Readers,

Mother of twins, Marie T, 33, wrote Lifeline from Greater Portmore, St Catherine.

She is often run off her feet at home while trying to care for her active two-year-olds, who are healthy and full of energy.

Marie has noticed that playing calm music seems to settle their energy levels and also allows her to have more patience with them.

She has downloaded numerous quiet musical pieces, some with the sound of the wind blowing, waves and running water, which, she said seems to be good mental therapy for everyone at home, including her grandmother, 84, who has started requesting that she continue to play more quiet music.

She asked Lifeline if music is used to treat illnesses or bad nerves.

Listening to most types of music is known to be positive. It is thought that music provides an immediate treatment for psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.

Less stress

People listening to music tend to feel happier and less stressed. People who sing in the shower tend to be calmer, as singing distracts them from other upsetting sources.

A number of research findings speak about the psychological and medical benefits to be experienced by listening to music.

Research now shows that children involved in music programmes grow up to experience lower rates of addictive behaviour and better academic performance than peer group-level children.

Reports show that these children are better prepared for college and the working environment. Taking music lessons has also been seen to improve IQ levels in children and adolescents.

Music acts as an immediate, effortless and mostly unconscious way to escape dark thoughts. Whether its lyrics or a tune, the restorative benefit of music can be amazing. It is now thought that music lessens the onset of cancer, and anxiety experienced by many cancer patients and, in fact, can improve their quality of life significantly.

Beneficial to health

Research has also shown that music has many beneficial health outcomes. It lessens pain, lifts mood, lowers high blood pressure and can positively compliment standard treatment used for treatment of many disorders.

The beauty of music enhances and renews hope in many individuals undergoing treatment for serious illnesses.

Music is actually used as adjunct therapy in First World countries to assist in enabling positive outcomes for people with serious illnesses, as well as being used as a mood reliever.

Singing, playing a musical instrument, creating rhythms or listening to pre-recorded music has been documented to have positive outcomes when used with cancer patients.

People declared decreased anxiety levels and improved quality of life when interviewed. In some studies, music therapy was documented to lessen the perception of pain, as well as lower high blood pressure, lower heart rate and lower respiratory rate.

Music has been used in persons on chemotherapy for cancer to lessen nausea, pain and anxiety.

Although there does not seem to be enough evidence to determine what kind of music gives the best results, it seems likely that music will be more successful in promoting health when it is tailored according to the persons personal tastes.

What is known is that musical qualities like tempo and volume will impact on mood and stress levels. This has been known for centuries, and is the reason why lullabies exist, to calm babies who won't sleep.

Treatment for mood disorders

There is no denying that the outcome of studies done are subjective, and additional research is needed to state, with authority, that music heals. However, research remains very promising in the use of music to help treat mood disorders and disease.

After all, the worst thing that occur if someone doesn't like music being played is that they turn it off!

There is evidence that music can assist children with communication and behaviour disorders, and help adolescents with eating disorders or drug dependencies.

Research also shows that babies are calmed and their heart rate slowed by singing lullabies to them. Live music is even being researched as adjunct therapy for Alzheimer's disease and has been found to be especially useful with hospice patients who are terminally ill and often low in spirit.

Even as music becomes more established as a form of therapy for medical conditions, the idea of using song, sound frequencies and rhythm to treat physical ailments is relatively new.

Research has also found that music improves the body's immune system, and listening to music is, at times, more effective than prescription drugs in reducing anxiety and stress, especially in persons awaiting surgery.

It is documented that music reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increases the body's production of killer cells which attack invading viruses.

The brain responds to music in different ways, and it has been found that playing music for children during painful surgical procedures is a simple intervention, which can make a big difference.

Music has also been documented to help adults who suffer with chronic pain. Active musical engagement allows individuals to connect with the healthy parts of their bodies, even in the face of debilitating diseases.

Lifeline encourages Marie to play on! There are no negatives to be experienced and restful, intelligent children are much to be desired.

Write to:

Lifeline,

PO Box 1731,

KGN 8

AJM