The Zoomer Report: Music and blood pressure

Researchers at the American Society of Hypertension’s annual meeting
reported that listening to classical music for just half an hour a day can significantly
reduce your blood pressure.

They recruited a total of 48 patients aged between 45 and 70, all with mild
hypertension.

28 of them listened to 30 minutes of music per day while conducting slow,
controlled abdominal breathing exercises.

The researchers found a significant blood pressure reduction in those patients
after one week and again after four weeks. It’s exciting, given that 56
billion people worldwide will be hypertensive by 2025. It means that something
as simple, easy and enjoyable as daily music listening combined with slow breathing,
may help people naturally lower their blood pressure.

And apparently it’s not only classical music — in the experiment,
Celtic and Indian raga music worked just as well.

Photo ©iStockphoto.com/Guillermo Perales Gonzalez

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About The Zoomer Report

Libby Znaimer, a prominent Canadian journalist specializing in business, politics, and lifestyle issues, is producer and host of The Zoomer Report, a special feature on topics of interest to baby boomers and the 50+. It covers everything from health and wealth to leisure and volunteerism, from the special vantage point of the generation that has changed society in its wake.

Ms. Znaimer is also Vice-President of News and Information for Classical 96.3FM and AM740. Her first book, “In Cancerland – Living Well Is The Best Revenge” – was published in October 2007 by Key Porter.

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