I'm not feeling very well but you have truly made my day. Research tells us that music can change physiological states. Music helps slow the heartbeat and warm the hands. It allows one to breathe deeply and release body tension. Benefits of music also include decreased perception of pain and increased tolerance and endurance for procedures such as chemotherapy.
Music also reduces nausea, fatigue and emotional distress.
Dr. Joe, who grew up in New York City, began playing the piano at age 12 and studied with a famous jazz musician. He says that he loves playing in the Cancer Center because he enjoys watching people's reactions to his music. Sometimes the applause comes from Dr. Joe's cardiology buddies and his wife, Kathy, a U-M surgery resident. No matter who is in the audience, everyone says they wish they could sit and listen for the entire hour. This information is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for professional care.