MEDICINE

Music therapy can play a key role in helping someone survive a heart attack, say researchers from the University of Belgrade School of Medicine. As well as helping prevent a second attack by 23 percent, it reduces the rate of heart failure by 18 percent, lowers the risk of coronary artery bypass surgery by 20 percent, and lessens the chances of cardiac death by 16 percent.

Around one in nine heart attack survivors suffers chest pains and anxiety attacks for the first two days afterwards, but patients who listen to soothing music they have chosen for 30 minutes a day reduce their chances of further problems.

The research included 350 heart attack patients who had music therapy along with standard drugs, or standard drugs alone. Along with all the physical benefits, those who listened to music also reported anxiety scores that were 30 percent lower than those just taking drugs.

A range of different drugs—from nitrates, beta blockers, statins and antihypertensives—are offered to the heart attack patient, and listening to music every day boosts their effectiveness, the researchers say.

(Source: Proceedings of the American College of Cardiology annual scientific session, March 18, 2020)

https://www.wddty.com/news/2020/04/music-therapy-helps-people-survive-after-a-heart-attack.html