The Health Benefits of Singing a Tune

Copyright © 2019, Chicago Tribune

A person need not be auditioning for the next season of American Idol or The Voice to start belting out a favorite tune.

According to the singing advocacy group Chorus America, more than 32 million American adults sing regularly in groups nationwide. Millions of children enjoy music education as part of their school curriculum as well.

Although many people may restrict their singing to the shower or when no one is around to hear them, there are some surprising health benefits of singing frequently — and encouraging others to do so as well.

Singing and stress

Scientists say that singing can have a calming but energizing effect on people. Singing can help tame stress but also lift the spirits. Singing is a natural antidepressant. According to information published in Time magazine, singing may release endorphins associated with feelings of pleasure as well as stimulate the release of oxytocin, a hormone that is found to alleviate anxiety and stress. Prevention magazine notes that choir singers, who often report feeling happy and free of significant anxiety, may notice their moods improving when they start to sing.

Singing and immune system function

Singing can be a form of exercise that works the lungs and other parts of the body required to project one’s voice. Singing may lead to a stronger diaphragm and stimulation of circulation due to the greater amount of oxygen needed to carry a tune.

Research conducted at the University of Frankfurt found that professional choir members who had their blood tested before and after an hour-long rehearsal displayed a greater amount of antibodies called immunoglobulin A after the rehearsal. These increases were not found in the choir members who simply listened to music. In the study, titled “Singing modulates mood, stress, cortisol, cytokine and neuropeptide activity in cancer patients and carers,” researchers found higher levels of cytokines present in the blood of those who sung for an hour in a choir, and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Singing and snoring

Singing may help alleviate snoring. A 2008 study published in the journal Sleep Breath found that the prevalence and severity of snoring among semi-professional singers and non-singers indicated that singers scored lower on the snoring scale. Singing strengthens muscles in the airway that can help reduce snoring. Furthermore, the breathing required to sustain a song may help improve lung function and reduce symptoms of mild asthma.

Singing and memory

Singing may help improve mental alertness by delivering more oxygenated blood to the brain. For those with dementia, singing can improve concentration and memory recollection. The Alzheimer’s Society has a “Singing for the Brain” program to help people with dementia maintain their memories.

Singing and social connections

Singing with a group can reduce loneliness by bringing together like-minded people engaged in the same activity. Websites like ChoirPlace.com can help people find choir groups near them.

Singing can boost confidence, improve mental function, help with immune response, and be a form of cardiovascular exercise.

Top 11 Health Benefits of Singing

By Health Fitness Revolution

September 25, 2018

It doesn’t matter if you are good or bad. Face it, everyone does it! Whether it’s in the shower, in your bedroom, in the car, or at work, everyone likes to sing. It is a form of expression and communication that speaks to people and makes us feel great. And, singing has health benefits, too!

Communication Skills

Singing is a form of communication first introduced to us as infants. According to Sally Goddard Blythe, author of The Genius of Natural Childhood and director of the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology, singing is the most effective way to develop communication skills in a child because it prepares the brain and voice for language. In a neuroimaging scan of a child’s brain, while listening to music, activity was shown not just in the hotspots, but in large areas in both hemispheres of the brain.

Better Brain Cognition

A neurobiologist from Northwestern University presented her musical findings at the American Psychological Association’s 122nd Annual Convention. She tested hundreds of children in public schools in impoverished areas and found that the kids who sang or were learning a musical instrument had improved neural function and attention span. Their IQs also improved after each year of music and singing lessons.

A Natural Mood Booster

The same as exercise, singing can release endorphins, the chemicals in your brain that make you feel good and happy. Scientists discovered that the sacculus, a small organ in the ear, reacts to the frequencies in singing, creating a sense of pleasure when heard.

Alertness

In 2015, The Alzheimer’s Society created the “Singing for the Brain” program to help with their patients’ memories. What they discovered was that the oxygen exchange that occurs when breathing in and out during singing actually increases blood circulation, creating a better-oxygenated bloodstream through the body as well the brain. However, this is not exclusive to people with dementia. It can apply to anyone who wants to improves memory and concentration.

Strengthens Immune System

The University of Frankfurt performed a study on a choir in which they took blood and saliva samples from each of the members before and after a one-hour rehearsal. What they found was that the choir members had increased levels of S-IgA (Secretory immunoglobulin A), proteins that act like antibodies in the immune system. The effects of singing choral music were significantly opposite from just listening to it, which gave decreased S-IgA levels.

Decreases Stress Levels

When singing, a person breathes in and out between phrases, emulating slow breathing for relaxation. Muscle tension is released, which lowers cortisol, a stress hormone, in our bloodstream. Oxytocin is also produced, which can alleviate stress as a natural stress reliever.

Lower Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure and are taking medication for it, singing might be the best natural medication for you. Singing has been proven to influence the body to relax and reduce blood pressure, lowering your anxiety.

Improves Your Posture

Maintaining good posture is a habit that can be easily created by singing because posture is a significant part of the correct technique. The chest cavity expands, causing the back and shoulders to align properly. According to Harvard Health, having good posture prevents you from having inflexible muscles muscle that can limit your range of motion, and it also promotes better breathing.

A Good Exercise

Singing is a great workout for those who are injured, disabled, or elderly. Applying the correct technique and vocal exercises for singing can be a great exercise for the lungs and also develop a stronger diaphragm by contracting the abdominal muscles. The oxygen used in singing is actually a greater amount than some other exercises. Therefore, it can promote better stamina and capacity.

Get Better Sleep

Everyone knows someone who snores or maybe has sleep apnea. Whatever the case, Alise Ojay, a drama therapist from the University of York, wanted to conduct an experiment called “Singing for Snorers” to help her friend. She collaborated with the University of Exeter, UK, and found that singing helps strengthen throat muscles, which decreases the frequency of snoring. With time, it can significantly reduce sleep apnea.

Live Longer

Can singing help you live longer? It definitely can! The University of San Francisco conducted a study to prove this idea. Researchers used people from senior centers in the Bay Area and formed 12 choirs. They tested their balance, lower body strength, and the respiratory system before and after the study. What they found was that the people in the choir fell less and had stronger legs. Julene Johnson from the UCSF Institute for Health and Aging also found that 30% of the older adults who complained of shortness of breath had improved breathing. In a later study in Scandinavia, singing was determined to be the key to a longer life, along with camping and dancing.