Listening to music might help you exercise for longer periods

Music can have a powerful impact on our mood, signalling the brain to release feelgood and energy-boosting chemicals. Being inactive or not exercising ranks alongside high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity as one of the five major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

“At least on a small scale, this study provides some evidence that music may help serve as an extra tool to help motivate someone to exercise more, which is critical to heart health,” said lead author Waseem Shami, cardiology fellow at Texas Tech University Health Sciences in the US. 

Adults need to get at least 30 minutes of moderate (aerobic) activity most days, including taking a brisk walk, swimming, playing tennis, riding a bicycle, dancing, water aerobics, gardening and even busy housework, experts suggested.