Blood flow, respiration and heartbeat mimic the rhythm of the music

THE Indian film industry spends crores of rupees to make a musical. It has always believed that music can make the heart dance to its beats. These days doctors are taking this approach seriously. Take Rajesh Parthsarthy, for example. He is a general practitioner. He is learning Hindustani classical music because he thinks it will add value to his practice. His patients might soon have to get used to a medical prescription enlisting songs instead of names of pills.

Music has for long been recognized as therapeutic. Slow music is known to relax the cardiovascular system. A new study shows that alternating between fast and slow music can be potentially more effective. Luciano Bernardi of the department of internal medicine at University of Pavia, Italy, found that heartbeat, blood flow and respiration mimic the rhythm and beat of the music being played.

Bernardi