Publication:

The effects of music on pulse rate and blood pressure in healthy young adults

Background Music is a combination of frequency, beat, density, tone, rhythm, repetition, loudness and lyrics. Cardiovascular autonomic function syncs with the different musical rhythms and modulates the cardiovascular system. When we are exposed to slow beat music the parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated decreasing the heart rate and while listening to fast beat music the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated and increases the heart rate. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of slow and fast beat music on pulse rate and blood pressure.

Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in 100 healthy adults of age group 18-25yrs. The subject was made to lie down in a couch and pulse rate and blood pressure is measured by LED BP apparatus. After that slow beat music (“The weightless” most relaxing song of 2011) was played through the headphone. Then the pulse rate and blood pressure were recorded immediately after the music. After a period of 5 minutes rest, again pulse rate and blood pressure were measured. Then, fast beat music (“World Wide chopper”) was played and the pulse rate and blood pressure were measured immediately after the fast music.

Results There was significant reduction in pulse rate and blood pressure after listening to slow music whereas there was significant increase in pulse rate and blood pressure after listening to fast music.

Conclusions We concluded that listening to slow beat music lowers the pulse rate and blood pressure, thereby improving the cardiac autonomic regulation.