How music can make you healthier

Music as medicine? It’s true — even for cancer patients, says an American review of 30 randomized trials involving 1,891 patients.

Patients may benefit from interactive sessions with music therapists or from listening to pre-recorded music, which helps fight anxiety and can also help boost mood, fight pain and lower blood pressure.

“We use music in our daily lives to relax, so it’s no surprise to find it can enhance the quality of life for cancer patients,” says lead author Joke Bradt. “But it’s exciting to see music used in a targeted way to achieve deep-state relaxation.”