Happy music is good for the heart
Listening to music which makes you happy may also be good for your cardiovascular system and help cut the risk of heart attacks, researchers claim.
They found the emotions aroused by joyful music caused increased blood flow, the same effect as taking blood medications.
While conducting ultrasound tests designed to show blood vessel function the boffins got volunteers to listen to their favorite music and then music which made them feel anxious.
When listening to their 'happy' music, tissue in the inner lining of peoples blood vessels dilated - meaning heart attacks and strokes were less likely.
Those asked to listen to Peter Andre and Jordan singing duets just wished they were having a heart attack.
When study volunteers listened to music they perceived as stressful, their blood vessels narrowed, producing a potentially unhealthy response that reduces blood flow.
"We had previously demonstrated that positive emotions, such as laughter, were good for vascular health," said Dr Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
"So, a logical question was whether other emotions, such as those evoked by music, have a similar effect."
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