Singing has three major benefits to your health

Maybe you are a person who easily sings out of tune, or maybe you are not very interested in learning vocal techniques and only hum a few lines when driving alone. In that case, do you think that singing should be the job of professional singers and you can only be a listener forever? Scientists tell us that in addition to its artistic value, singing also has great health value - it not only makes us happy, but also enhances our body's immune system. It is a "natural medicine" that keeps us physically and mentally healthy.

Release hormones

Professor Robert Baker of the University of California, San Diego, who has conducted long-term research on the effects of singing, said: "Stress affects the human immune system. And if you feel good about what you do, your immune system will be strengthened."

Researchers have shown that when people sing, a hormone called oxytocin is released in the brain. This hormone is also released in the brain of a new mother when she is breastfeeding her baby. It is also released in the brains of couples when they make love or when lovers gaze at each other lovingly. This hormone can enhance the feelings between people.

Researchers also found that the amount of oxytocin released in a person's brain is the highest during adolescence. Perhaps for this reason, many people have a particularly deep impression of the songs they heard or sang during adolescence.

This hormonal release also explains why some music lovers like to form bands. David Huron, a music researcher at Ohio State University, said: "When we sing and dance together, everyone's emotions are synchronized." The military undoubtedly knows this very well, so they always have soldiers singing marches together in rhythm.

Enhances immune function

In addition to making people happy, singing can also enhance the body's immune function. Researchers at the University of California found that after each rehearsal, the choir members' levels of an immunoglobulin called IgA increased by 150 percent, and after a public performance, this immunoglobulin increased by 240 percent. "While we can't say that singing can protect against colds, it does appear that singing can boost a person's immune system under the right circumstances," said study leader Dr.

Inspired by these studies, Gene Cohen, director of the Center for the Study of Aging, Health, and Humanities at George Washington University, conducted an experiment to test whether older adults who had never received vocal training could also gain actual benefits from singing. The researchers compared two groups of socially active people aged 65 and over. One group of seniors sings every week under the guidance of a professional conductor. Another group of elderly people still actively participate in various daily activities, but do not join the choir. After one year, the health index of the first group of elderly people was much higher than that of the second group. Elderly people who insist on singing go to the hospital less often to see a doctor and take medicine, and are less likely to fall.

Training Neural Pathways

Other studies have shown that singing in a choir improves moods among the elderly, young students and homeless people. In addition, patients with emphysema also experienced improved breathing after receiving singing training. The study also found that amateur singers also have better personal grooming.

John Fromanyer, former president of the National Endowment for the Arts, believes that there is a connection between art and learning. He said: "Music uses the right brain, while language uses the left brain, and the neural pathways between the two are very strong. I can remember the lyrics of almost every song I sing. It is very important for children to have the opportunity to be exposed to music and singing. I believe that learning about the arts can train our neural pathways, which are very important for us to learn other areas.