Singing the blues away

Every month, I travel to the seaside town of Newcastle for my seaweed bath.  Not only do I enjoy the hot and relaxing sea water packed with healthy detoxifying seaweed, I enjoy a good singalong to Abba.  So is it just the seaweed bath which brings me health benefits but is it the case that singing is actually good for us too?  I decided to do a little research and here’s a summary of what I found out.

Relieves stress

Singing appears to be a stress-reliever. A 2017 study measured the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone, in participant’s saliva before and after they sang.  A quick rendition of Mamma Mia could therefore help to lower your stress.

Improves mental health and mood

When you sing, endorphins are released – this is the feel-good chemical that makes you feel uplifted and happy.  A tiny organ in the ear called the sacculus also responds to the frequencies created by singing and this leads to an immediate sense of pleasure.  Singing also is a good distraction from the day’s troubles so will improve your mood and help to sing the blues away.

In a 2018 study on “The Sing Your Heart Out” project, it was found that the participants reported improvements in their mental health, mood, sense of well-being, and feeling of belonging.

Boosts the immune system

Back in 2004, the University of Frankfurt conducted research to show that singing boosts the immune system. The study included testing choir members’ blood before and after an hour-long rehearsal singing Mozart’s “Requiem”. The researchers noticed that in most cases, the amount of proteins in the immune system that function as antibodies, known as Immunoglobulin A, were significantly higher immediately after the rehearsal.  When choir members only listened to music, antibody levels did not increase.

May improve snoring

Regular singing may change the way you breathe, even when you’re not singing. Researchers in a 2008 study interviewed the partners of choir members, along with the partners of people who don’t sing.  They discovered that significantly fewer choir members snored!

Could help lung function

Because singing involves deep breathing and the controlled use of muscles in the respiratory system, it may be beneficial for certain lung and breathing conditions including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). 

Enhances memory in people with dementia

Studies have shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia were able to recall song lyrics more easily than other words.  In one study, participants said it was “nice to be able to remember something.”  Researchers found that singing songs learned at a younger age caused a spontaneous return of autobiographical details for many people.

The bottom line is that singing is actually good for us, whether you sing in the shower, the car or in your church choir.  The next time I’m back in Newcastle’s Soak Seaweed Bath, I will definitely be belting out numbers including Money Money Money, Mamma Mia, Waterloo and Thank you for the Music!