Sunday, October 26, 2008

Can You Actually Improve Health by Singing?

By Georgia Reader

If any time you feel like singing, whether in the shower, in the car or even in your neighbor's infamous karaoke night, you must go ahead and sing. This is an ancient art that not only makes you feel good but also reduces your pain, rejuvenates and ensures your well-being and even prolongs your life span. Using your voice for singing and not only for conversations has a number of benefits.

A lot of study and research work show that these studies link singing with decreased blood pressure, reduced stress, and slower heartbeat. When we sing, we generally express deep feelings, which helps us amazingly in reducing the stress level. It helps us unwind, relax, and put our minds off the matter that is acting as a downer on our spirits so that overall, singing helps us feel much better.

It is strongly believed in the medical world that singing is a good aerobic exercise that helps the abdominal muscles, circulation of blood, and the lungs. Singing both with or without music is treated as a therapy for people suffering from many kinds of physical, psychological or emotional illness and traumas. People who have speech impairment from stroke have singing as a part of their treatment as it greatly helps in breathing, communication, and rhythm.

Chreanne Montgomery-Smith of the Alzheimer's Society has taken the singing therapy a step forward. As a result, the feel good factor of singing a notch ahead by forming Singing for the Brain, a singing group for patients of dementia, memory problems, or Alzheimer's disease. Singing makes people feel good, because they are expressing emotion and not keeping the feelings bottled up in muscle tension and release stress.

The part of the brain that processes speech is different from the part of the brain that processes music. That is why people who are unable to converse anymore still are able to enjoy music. Many of these scientific studies have shown that singing also enhances immunity and well-being, which are two great benefits.

Senior citizens often have trouble with depression and loss, and singing can help cope with some of these issues. Whether singing with a group or chorus or singing solo, one can derive many health benefits that will help with these common issues. Numerous advantages can include vibrant energy, self-esteem, larger lung capacity, enhanced posture, and better self-confidence.

Learning how to sing includes exercises that help in strengthening the muscles of your breathing apparatus and increases the lung capacity. Endorphins are let go into your circulation, which helps in the breathing. People who suffer from breath support problems can sing in a chorus or take singing lessons to help with lung health and prevent depression.

Singing can be called a therapy, and is being used in some arenas of the health professions. Research has shown that it eases breath support troubles, helps deal with dementia, low self-esteem, people dealing with feelings of chronic despair, and boost the immune system. Singing can encourage a good, vigorous and happy life if done regularly. - 15634

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