These days, a lot of people are taking up singing as a fun hobby or a way to socialize with other people.
But, an increasing number of people are using singing as a therapy to help with various medical problems.
In this article I am going to discuss one very important area where singing is being used to make great improvements in quality of life and health - respiratory diseases and conditions, for example, asthma, emphysema, and problems with breathing.
How Singing Helps Problems with Breathing It has been said that singing is 80% breathing, so a large part of how we learn to sing involves exercises that strengthen the muscles of your breathing apparatus and increase lung capacity.
Singing is also known to increase general well-being, largely through a release of endorphins (hormones that give you a high) into the blood stream and this could contribute to an increased rate of recovery in some people.
More and more people with breathing problems are turning to choirs and /or singing lessons to improve their symptoms.
The Breathe Easy Chorus Brighton (UK) has seen the introduction of the first choir aimed specifically at people who suffer from lung disease, asthma and other breathing problems.
The Breathe Easy Chorus was set up with National Health Service backing to help patients with breathing problems sing their way to better health.
One choir member, Sid, 62, a former miner, who could not even speak the words to the songs when he started, can now sing songs right through, and can walk and talk much better, without always having to resort to inhalers.
Choir leader Udita Everett first gets the patients to relax and then follows with breathing exercises which help improve lung capacity and power.
Asthma UK has also set up some "Huff and Puff" clubs which use music to help children overcome asthma.
The Singing for Breathing Project A press release from the Royal Brompton Hospital (UK) gives details of the newly created Ian Adam Memorial Fund called "Singing for Breathing" in memory of the world-leading vocal coach who died of Pneumonia in May 2007 .
The press release states that "The aim of the fund is to help staff at Royal Brompton Hospital to incorporate singing training into the physiotherapy and pulmonary rehabilitation programmes given to respiratory patients treated at the hospital.
A previous pilot project organised by the hospital arts department showed huge potential for singing to improve breathlessness and breathing control for patients with asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and emphysema.
" It would appear that singing, as a therapeutic activity, is finding its way into numerous areas of healthcare with studies showing that it can help not only problems with breathing, but also depression, stress related illnesses, dementia, snoring and the immune system.
If you're looking for a way to improve your health you why not learn to sing?
But, an increasing number of people are using singing as a therapy to help with various medical problems.
In this article I am going to discuss one very important area where singing is being used to make great improvements in quality of life and health - respiratory diseases and conditions, for example, asthma, emphysema, and problems with breathing.
How Singing Helps Problems with Breathing It has been said that singing is 80% breathing, so a large part of how we learn to sing involves exercises that strengthen the muscles of your breathing apparatus and increase lung capacity.
Singing is also known to increase general well-being, largely through a release of endorphins (hormones that give you a high) into the blood stream and this could contribute to an increased rate of recovery in some people.
More and more people with breathing problems are turning to choirs and /or singing lessons to improve their symptoms.
The Breathe Easy Chorus Brighton (UK) has seen the introduction of the first choir aimed specifically at people who suffer from lung disease, asthma and other breathing problems.
The Breathe Easy Chorus was set up with National Health Service backing to help patients with breathing problems sing their way to better health.
One choir member, Sid, 62, a former miner, who could not even speak the words to the songs when he started, can now sing songs right through, and can walk and talk much better, without always having to resort to inhalers.
Choir leader Udita Everett first gets the patients to relax and then follows with breathing exercises which help improve lung capacity and power.
Asthma UK has also set up some "Huff and Puff" clubs which use music to help children overcome asthma.
The Singing for Breathing Project A press release from the Royal Brompton Hospital (UK) gives details of the newly created Ian Adam Memorial Fund called "Singing for Breathing" in memory of the world-leading vocal coach who died of Pneumonia in May 2007 .
The press release states that "The aim of the fund is to help staff at Royal Brompton Hospital to incorporate singing training into the physiotherapy and pulmonary rehabilitation programmes given to respiratory patients treated at the hospital.
A previous pilot project organised by the hospital arts department showed huge potential for singing to improve breathlessness and breathing control for patients with asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and emphysema.
" It would appear that singing, as a therapeutic activity, is finding its way into numerous areas of healthcare with studies showing that it can help not only problems with breathing, but also depression, stress related illnesses, dementia, snoring and the immune system.
If you're looking for a way to improve your health you why not learn to sing?