Music "reportedly calms nerves before surgery as well as sedativeJuly 19, 2019 - 14:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Listening to the "world's most relaxing song" before an operation could be just as good at calming patients' nerves as medication, US researchers say, the BBC reports. The song, written to reduce anxiety, blood pressure and heart rate, performed as well as a sedative in a study of 157 people. But patients said they would have preferred to choose their own music. And noise-cancelling headphones made communication harder, doctors said. The University of Pennsylvania researchers, writing in a BMJ journal, now want to look at whether the type of music and how it is played to patients makes a difference to the results. The patients in the trial were either given the drug midazolam or played the song Weightless by UK band Marconi Union for three minutes, while having an anaesthetic to numb a region of the body. Patient anxiety reduced by the same amount in both groups. Feeling anxious before surgery can affect recovery because of the stress hormones produced in the body. But drugs that reduce anxiety can have side-effects and need constant monitoring by doctors, the researchers from University of Pennsylvania said. Music medicine, in contrast, was "virtually harm-free and inexpensive". Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. U.S. reacts to Russia’s criticism of upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting Matthew Miller has weighed in on Russia’s criticism of an upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting. Lavrov sees ‘collapse’ of Russia’s ties with Armenia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored heightened tensions between Russia and Armenia. Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. |