Music could be used to treat heart attack and stroke victims, claim scientists

Music may be used to treat heart attack and stroke victims after Italian scientists found it can affect blood pressure.

Researchers found that music with faster tempos increased blood pressure and heart rate, whereas slower music reduced them. The same affect was also achieved by slowly changing the volume of the music.

By combining slow and fast music it was possible to control the cardiovascular system and eventually help its rehabilitation.

The findings were reported in the Journal of the American Heart Association by Professor Luciano Bernardi at the University of Pavia, in Italy.

They found that swelling crescendos induced moderate arousal while the lowering volume of decrescendos induce relaxation.

When the music was paused, breathing, heart rate and blood pressure decreased, sometimes below the beginning rate. Slower music caused declines in heart rates.

Study participants were fitted with headphones and were attached to electrocardiogram (ECG) and monitors to measure blood pressure, cerebral artery flow, respiration and narrowing of blood vessels on the skin.