Why you should sing more — even if it's off key
Please, don't stop the music!
There are some major health benefits to singing and practicing music — even if you can't quite hit all the notes in the latest Taylor Swift smash.
Making music has the ability to benefit brain and mental well-being, regardless of your age, scientists say. Singing can also strengthen your physical health. So, don't stop, even if you're not the next Stevie Nicks.
'Nobody says you shouldn't jog if you are not good at it,' Daniel Levitin, a professor emeritus of neuroscience at Quebec's McGill University, recently told The Washington Post. 'That's not the point.'
But, what is the point? Here's what you should know about singing before your next karaoke night:
It's a mood booster
Researchers have found singing helps to improve our moods, and the moods of our children. A new study published by researchers at Yale University has found that singing to your infant can significantly boost their mood. Research from the American Institute of Physics found that playing music can even calm fetal heart rates, potentially resulting in developmental benefits.
But, the benefits go beyond age gaps.
In April, a study from Northwestern University showed singing could positively affect older and isolated adults with neurocognitive disorders.
The brain and physical benefits
We feel good when we sing. So do our bodies.
When people sing together, our bodies produce oxytocin, which is sometimes called the 'love hormone' because it contributes to our sense of feeling socially bonded with others. Our levels of cortisol, or the 'stress hormone,' are also decreased when people sing together.
Singing can also help people to lose weight. Just an hour of singing while standing up burns around 140 calories for a person who weighs 150 pounds, according to the London Singing Institute. For those who weigh more, the number of calories increases.
Furthermore, it can aid lung function, because it involves deep breathing and controlled use of muscles. It helps people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — which is a condition that can obstruct the airways — to manage symptoms and keep their airways open.
In fact, singing is a boon for people with multiple health conditions.
In people who had experienced strokes, singing was able help repair the language network of the brain, researchers at the University of Helsinki found. The practice increased the volume of the brain's grey matter, which plays a pivotal role in cognition and emotional regulation. Previously, MIT neuroscientists had found neurons in the human brain that respond to singing, but not other types of music.
Melodies can fight maladies
Singing and listening to music can lead to significant improvements in mental health and smaller improvements in physical health, according to Harvard Medical School.
Singing accesses the left side of the brain, responsible for structuring sentences. Whereas, music activates just about all of the brain, including memory and emotion-based regions. It can support peoples' memory, word recall, and energy levels.
Listening to music can reduce blood pressure, limit pain, and help to improve sleep quality, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Music listeners in a 2020 survey had higher scores for mental well-being and slightly reduced levels of anxiety and depression to people.
'Because music can activate almost all brain regions and networks, it can help to keep a myriad of brain pathways and networks strong, including those networks that are involved in well-being, learning, cognitive function, quality of life, and happiness,' Harvard's Dr. Andrew Budson notes.
Your pitch is probably not as off as you might think.
Researchers at the University of California Cruz found that a remarkable proportion of people singing 'earworm' songs from memory matched the pitch of the original songs.
'What this shows is that a surprisingly large portion of the population has a type of automatic, hidden 'perfect pitch' ability,' Matt Evans, a Ph.D. candidate who led the study, said in a statement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
How vaccine fears and summer holidays could trigger a measles surge
As the June heatwave begins and families prepare for a summer of festivals and flying off abroad, experts are warning that thousands may return home this year with an unwanted holiday souvenir. Measles – the highly infectious but preventable disease from the past – is making a concerning comeback. Already, a number of popular destinations – including France, Spain and Italy – have seen 'large' outbreaks, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Analysis by WHO Europe and Unicef reported 127,350 measles cases in the European region for 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023. It is also the highest number since 1997. It's a similar story across the pond. Canada, which only recorded an average of 91 measles cases annually from 1998 to 2024, has 2,885 confirmed cases already this year. Meanwhile, there were more measles cases in the US during the first three months of 2025 than in all of 2024, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. 'It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family,' says Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA. 'Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday.' While cases are still lower in the UK than they were in 2024, experts are also worried that unvaccinated people could contract the disease at large-scale events such as Glastonbury – which starts next week. 'Festivals are the perfect place for measles to spread,' says Dr Alasdair Wood, a consultant in health protection at UKHSA South West. 'We want festival-goers to enjoy their time at Glastonbury and other festivals this year. Being aware of the current health risks will help those attending enjoy their time as much as possible. If you're not fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, please contact your GP to see if you can get an appointment before coming to the festival.' Vaccine hesitancy and the declining MMR vaccination rates – only 85 per cent of UK children are receiving two doses, well below the 95 per cent needed for herd immunity – may well be the reason why a surge in measles is being predicted later this year. Dr Hana Patel, a GP, says that although she hasn't seen any cases of measles this year so far in her surgery in south-east London, like most health professionals, she's concerned that the pandemic as well as other factors are to blame for the lack of vaccinations in some parts of the UK. 'There have always been some communities who are vaccine hesitant – there is evidence that traveller communities don't have access to the same information most people do, or patients from particular areas from Europe, where they don't have a vaccine schedule, are two examples,' she says. 'But after Covid, I've noticed more people – even some doctors – who seem quite complacent about vaccines. 'It's not always a family's fault. If you have a transient population, perhaps a family in temporary accommodation who are then moved to another area, they might miss their letter or appointment. Or then they will get an appointment and then forget about it because it's not on everyone's mind all the time. It's really important to find out the challenges in each particular area and target them with specific help. 'Other parents may not understand that it's not just one vaccination but you need two to be fully protected. Children in larger families may also be at risk because parents think one child has had it and so they think that protects the others or they can't remember if the others have had it. Speaking a different language may be another factor. 'I really hope that more people get the vaccine done, because long-term consequences such as meningitis and hearing loss, are incredibly serious. We also have to remember the risks to pregnant women of being exposed to measles too (contracting measles can lead to severe complications with pregnancy and birth). It's more than just the child who has been vaccinated, it's the people around them too.' Dr Naveed Asif, a GP from the London General Practice, says he has encountered a diverse spectrum of patients who have been influenced by the misinformation surrounding vaccines. 'One notable instance involved a well-educated couple who meticulously researched every decision they make regarding their children's health,' he says. 'They came to me with a palpable sense of uncertainty after reading a negative article about the MMR vaccine. Despite the wealth of positive data supporting its safety and efficacy, they were fixated on that one negative report. 'I've also treated patients from backgrounds where traditional beliefs about health are prevalent. For example, families from South Asian communities often rely heavily on parental advice and anecdotal experiences. They might argue that they've never needed vaccines in their lives and feel confident in their decision to forgo them. This reliance on peer opinion can lead to a strong sense of community validation, but it can also perpetuate hesitancy about vaccinations. 'From my personal experience, I often see sick children presenting to their GP first, and I have encountered significantly unwell children whose parents have chosen not to vaccinate. These families often find themselves reliant on more invasive, distressing and intensive resources to support their child's illness. I firmly believe that exposing children to vaccines early, rather than keeping them unprotected, is more likely to build immunity and contribute to healthier, stronger adults overall.' But vaccine hesitancy is not the only factor. Although the figures for measles were low during the Covid pandemic, the lockdowns appear to have exacerbated the current increase in measles figures, with over 1.8 million infants in the WHO European region missing their vaccinations between 2020 and 2022. England had already experienced 2,911 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in 2024, the highest number of cases recorded annually since 2012. One young person was confirmed to have died in the UK last year of the disease. 'We have seen a steady decline in vaccination coverage for children over the past 10 years and we now find ourselves in a situation where the UK does not meet the WHO target of 95 per cent coverage for any routine childhood immunisations,' says Dr Helen Stewart, the officer for health improvement at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. 'The result of this trend is being felt already, with measles outbreaks occurring across the UK, increasing cases of whooping cough and poliovirus being found in sewage samples in London. 'Because the MMR vaccine has been so successful in preventing outbreaks, many parents and caregivers today have never witnessed the sometimes devastating impact measles can have on children and babies. Measles is one of the more contagious diseases – more transmissible than even Covid – and poses a serious threat, especially to children under the age of five. 'Paediatricians are particularly concerned about current and potential outbreaks in the UK, especially during the upcoming winter period. This is already an extremely tough time for health care professionals, with high surges in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza, as well as circulating Covid and group A streptococcus (GAS). To have another highly contagious, dangerous and preventable disease, making children sick, would be disastrous. Not only could it put other young patients at serious risk, it could also add further pressure to paediatric wards. 'We understand that vaccine hesitancy may be an issue in some instances, but evidence shows that accessibility and availability of health appointments plays a huge role in low uptake. We urge the UK Government to take forward the commitments of the NHS's vaccine strategy and work towards reversing this dangerous trend.' Six decades ago, up to more than half a million people in the UK could be affected by measles each year, and around 100 people would die annually. Author Roald Dahl's seven-year-old daughter was one such victim, dying of complications from the disease in 1962. Thousands were left with respiratory, brain or hearing problems. But the MMR vaccine changed everything. Introduced in 1968, it's thought to have prevented over 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths in the UK. When offered to all children in 1988 (and the second dose MMR vaccine was brought in for preschoolers in 1996), the number of cases in the UK fell dramatically. So much so that in 2017, WHO confirmed that the UK had achieved 'measles elimination status', something the US had already achieved in 2000. Despite the UK losing this status shortly afterwards, it regained it again in 2021 after the Covid pandemic. Yet now, doctors are facing real fears that it has taken a foothold once again. 'The challenge is not anecdotal, it is very real,' says Dr Benjamin Kasstan-Dabush of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 'There has been a global rise in measles cases, and two unvaccinated children died from measles in Texas this year, reminding us of just how dangerous this preventable disease is. 'High vaccination coverage helps to prevent the spread of disease, but rates are just not as high as they need to be. It is likely that the number of confirmed cases of measles does not reflect the actual burden of illness. 'This is particularly worrying because a child infected with measles can deteriorate rapidly, and there is always a risk of them developing encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). So, we should all be concerned about a predicted surge in measles cases.' Since January this year, 420 lab-confirmed measles cases have been reported in England, with London reporting almost half of all cases in the past four weeks. Outside the capital, Bristol has seen the highest number of cases, with 47 so far this year, followed by Leeds (29) and Essex (22). A number of other regions are also reporting outbreaks, with 25 per cent of cases in the North West, and 11 per cent in the West Midlands. Earlier this month, UKHSA published its monthly update showing there were 109 confirmed cases in April and 86 so far in May – most have been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under. 'We have seen a small increase in the number of measles cases in Birmingham over recent weeks,' says Dr Clara Day, the chief medical officer for NHS Birmingham and Solihull. 'We know how easy it is for viruses like this to spread within our communities, especially where we know there is a high number of unvaccinated people. 'Unfortunately we know that misinformation surrounding the MMR immunisation is prevalent, but it is safe, effective and the only protection we have against these illnesses. Measles in particular can be deadly in the most serious of cases, so I would encourage all parents to make informed decisions about whether to get their child immunised.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Study pinpoints exact number of coffees per day that can cut the risk of sudden cardiac death
A coffee a day might be enough to keep the doctor away. For US researchers have found coffee lovers tend to have healthier hearts, putting them at lower risk of cardiac death. And the benefits can be achieved by drinking just one cup a day, they claimed—but only if they drink it black. Those who drank between two to three cups, however, saw the most benefits, slashing their risk by almost a fifth. The findings, from the study of more than 46,000 people, add to the growing body of evidence highlighting the drink's health benefits. Professor Fang Fang Zhang, a nutrition expert at Tufts University in Boston, said: 'Coffee is among the most-consumed beverages in the world, and with nearly half of American adults reporting drinking at least one cup per day, it's important for us to know what it might mean for health.' Some research has already linked coffee to reducing the risk of heart disease, heart failure and strokes, while other studies report it prolongs life. But medics remain divided, warning that excessive amounts of coffee—packed full of caffeine—can actually damage the heart. The new study, in The Journal of Nutrition, tracked the daily coffee consumption of 46,332 people over the age of 20. Over a follow up of 11 years, they found black coffee and coffee with low levels of added sugar and saturated fat—like milk or cream—had a 14 per cent lower risk of death compared to no coffee consumption. But one cup of black coffee a day, specifically, slashed the risk of death including cardiovascular death, by 16 per cent. Those who drank between two and three a day saw the risk lowered by 17 per cent. However, researchers noted that the benefits peaked at three cups a day. They also found that those who added high amounts of sweeteners and dairy to their coffee did not experience the same benefits. Researchers acknowledged, however, that the coffee consumption was self-reported by volunteers, so may have been underreported, limiting the findings. It was also assessed without detailing the roast used and preparation methods. NHS data shows a rise in the number of younger adults suffering from heart attacks over the past decade. The biggest increase (95 per cent) was recorded in the 25-29 year-old demographic, though as numbers of patients are low even small spikes can look dramatic Under NHS guidance, consuming more than four cups a day can increase blood pressure. Around 2million people in the UK are diagnosed with some form of heart disease, according to Government figures. But charities estimate that a further six million have undiagnosed high blood pressure—one of the leading risk factors for stroke and heart attack. Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. It's often caused by fatty deposits in the arteries that can make it harder for blood and oxygen to flow properly through the vessels and to and from the heart. This increases the risk of a blockage, and therefore stroke or heart attack. Last year, alarming data revealed that premature deaths from cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, had hit their highest level in more than a decade. MailOnline has previously highlighted how the number of young people, under 40, in England being treated for heart attacks by the NHS is on the rise. Cases of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes among the under-75s has tumbled since the 1960s thanks to plummeting smoking rates, advanced surgical techniques and breakthroughs such as stents and statins. But now, rising obesity rates, and its catalogue of associated health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes, are thought to be one of the major contributing factors.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Trump's hands at G7 fuel speculation and concern
US president Donald Trump has sparked concerns for his health after observers became baffled and fascinated with the state of his hands during the heated G7 Summit. Trump, 79, unleashed a wave of speculation after he left the summit in Kananaskis, Canada, early. While the president left as the crisis between Israel and Iran grew more intense, some online were worried that his early exit may have had something to do with his health. Their apparent evidence was the appearance of his hands at Kananaskis. Photos taken at the event showed Trump with a significant discolouration on his hand and other images showed what appeared to be foundation used to cover it up. His hand also appeared to be puffy. One person said in response to a photo of the Republican's hands: 'What's up with Trump's hands???' Another said: 'Holy crap. That is some major [oedema] in Trump's right hand. Compare it to the left side.' People have long speculated over the cause of the discolouration. Earlier this year, a White House official told MailOnline that it was bruising caused by Trump shaking hundreds of hands of people on the campaign trail and with his current duties. Those repeated interactions can take a toll. The official said Trump greets as many people as possible. That explains why it was appeared in October, during the height of Trump's campaign to retake the White House. But some have alleged that it looks like a bruise left from an IV procedure. Others asked if Trump, who became the oldest president to take the oath in January might be getting 'dehydrated and given fluids' or even struggling from a vitamin deficiency, without providing evidence. Dr Jeff Foster, a men's health specialist and the Medical Director of Manual, said: 'It appears this bruise in question is reoccurring, having seen a similar bruise in August and November of last year, the most likely thought is this could well be bruising from a recent canula from the way it appears. 'Of course as Donald Trump is nearly 80 years old, his skin is naturally thinner and weaker which happens as we age and therefore we bruise much more easily. 'The White House representatives have suggested Donald's bruise is from constantly shaking hands with people, however I would be concerned if this was indeed the case of blood thinning drugs or skin delicacy.' Dr Ross Perry, the Medical Director of Cosmedics skin clinics, said: 'There has been much speculation of Donald Trump's declining health in recent month, and at 78 it is entirely natural that our skin bruises far quicker and easier when we are almost 80. 'This is due to the skin becoming less flexible and thinner as it loses the fatty layer which cushions the blood vessels. As Donald is a fan of tanning, exposure to the sun can also damage the skin making blood vessels easier to break,' Dr Ross Perry confirmed.
