Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Maybe just a coincidence

Slightly OT, but...

For years I have suffered from hypertension and CAD. I have a replacement aeortic valve, two stents and had a treatment for a-fib.

I just had a thorough cardiac evaluation yesterday, including a thallium stress test. The results were spectacularly great! I attribute the changes to my re-interest in piano performance - after 55 years away from it. I realize that my former "A" personality won't work when addressing the piano. I have learned to relax and enjoy the learning experience (frustrating though it may be at times) and the joy of coaxing beautiful music from the 88 note beast!

Even 10 years of intense cycling (including cross-country in 2000) didn't have such favorable impact on my cardio-vascular system.

Note - if you're a doctor and totally disagree with this, that's fine. But I believe what I believe!

Ben you don't have to "believe" because you are a clinical study of one so to speak. If you have noticed an improvement in your mental health then it is real!

I have problems of my own, many of us do. Playing piano GREATLY helps reduce my stress levels (self imposed)and lets me unwind at night before bed.

Playing piano throughout the day helps out even more with maintaining a stable mindset.

I support your claims 100%.

Bart, I am not a doctor, and I don't even play one on TV (reference to an old advertisement for you young'uns out there)

But I absolutely believe you.

We're only just beginning to understand how the mind affects the body. While you are right that your case study can't be regarded as firm scientific evidence, I'd trust your hunches on the cause of your improvement.

Congratulations! Here's wishing you and your heart many more years of piano-inspired health.

I'm just happy that you are a pianist, happy to be a pianist, and think it improves your health because you're a pianist.

+1! Congratulations on a good report from the doc!That's always a good and welcome thing.

I’m quite sure that more extensive research would show that your assessment is valid. I too have found the therapeutic and stress relieving value of learning to play the piano very beneficial, both physically and psychologically.

Keep it up!!!

Rick

Can we get our health insurance to pay for piano lessons?

If you believe it, then that is all that matters...

But I bet many of your current and past meds deserve some credit too...

I've seen some great changes in the area of cardiology in the past 25 years...