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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Can You Actually Improve Health by Singing?

By Georgia Reader

If you are in the mood to sing, just get it together and sing! The very act of using your voice has many health benefits that help with pain reduction, makes you feel better and helps you live longer. When we sing rather than speak, we generally have an intonation, a melody line, and crescendo which provide us with a broader vocabulary for expressing ourselves.

Researchers have studied the connection between singing and lower blood pressure, less stress, and reduced speed of the heart beat. Singers usually sing with emotion that expresses the way they feel, which assists in lowering the stress in the body. The act of singing gives us permission to forget about our problems so that there is reduced tension and bolsters mood.

Singing has been viewed by some medical professionals as a excellent form of exercise that promotes the tightening of stomach muscles, blood flow, and helps breathing. The act of singing can be viewed as a type of therapy for those encountering bodily and mentally upsetting problems. Stroke victims have been known to show some improvement as it helps in rebuilding verbal interactions with people and breath support.

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.

Singing helps calm breathing troubles as that 80% of your singing activity involves breathing. It releases endorphins (hormones that give you a high) into the blood stream, which in turn helps in the recovery for many people. More people every day who suffer from breathing troubles are turning to choirs or singing lessons to improve their well- being.

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.

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