Music is good for your heart

COLOMBO: The Cardiology Unit of the National Hospital has launched an experimental musical therapy programme for heart patients. The first such concert, for 150 patients, took place on Saturday with maestro W.D. Amaradeva as the main performer.

This is the first time that such an experiment is being conducted in Sri Lanka, though international research has proved that music is a good healer for a range of diseases. This programme was initiated by cardiologist Dr. Ruwan Ekanayake.

Dr. Ekanayake said this programme would be conducted monthly at the Cardiology Centre of the hospital. The soothing music helps patients to reduce stress and achieve mental serenity. The hospital will monitor the patients after the musical therapy sessions to study any changes in their health indices.

The appropriate forms of music will be recorded onto CDs and ultimately made available to heart patients convalescing at home for their benefit.