Healthy singing in the choir strengthens the immune system and reduces stress

Singing could help cancer patients recover
For cancer patients, it is very important to strengthen their immune system. For this reason, medical professionals are always trying to find new ways to improve the immune system of those affected. Now, scientists have found that singing in a choir can strengthen the immune system and help people cope better with their stress. These findings could help people with cancer to better treat their condition.

Choir singing seems to have a social, emotional and psychological impact on people. Experts from Tenovus Cancer Care and the Royal College of Music have now discovered in an investigation that singing in chorus can strengthen the immune system. This finding could help cancer patients fight their disease. The scientists published the results of their study in the journal "ecancermedicalscience".

Singing in a choir can strengthen the immune system and additionally reduce the stress. These effects could help cancer patients to better combat their condition. (Image: Glenda Powers / fotolia.com)

One hour of singing in the choir has positive biological effects
Singing in chorus could help cancer patients to strengthen their defenses. Already one hour of choral singing increases the level of the immune proteins, reduces our stress and improves the mood, explain the researchers. The discovery was really interesting for the medicine. Research from the last six years has already shown that singing in a choir can have a range of social, emotional and psychological benefits. Now physicians have discovered that there are also biological effects, says lead author Ian Lewis of Tenovus Cancer Care. For a long time, people have claimed that singing in a choir would create positive feelings. But it has now been proven for the first time that our immune system is also affected by singing.

The findings could help in the future to support people with cancer in their fight, explain the scientists. The physicians examined a total of 193 members of five different choirs on levels of the stress hormone cortisol and its cytokines. For this purpose, saliva samples were taken from the subjects, in each case shortly before and after one hour of singing in the choir, explain the authors.

Singing can reduce the stress-induced suppression of the immune system
The physicians found that the mood improved and the levels of inflammation in the body decreased when the subjects chorused for one hour. Many people affected by cancer suffer psychological problems such as stress, anxiety and depression, explains co-author Dr. Daisy Fancourt. These negatively affect the human immune system, although cancer patients need all kinds of support at this time, Dr. Fancourt.

A simple activity like singing can reduce the stress-induced suppression of the immune system. Thus, the vocals help patients to improve their well-being and quality of life - optimal conditions for the treatment of cancer, the physician adds. (As)