John Denver and his Country Music found to be Good for Heart by Scientists!

Listening to a cheerful favourite tune has a beneficial effect on blood vessels, widening them and protecting them against heart disease, researchers found.Stressful or disturbing music, on the other hand, narrows the arteries and may be bad for the heart.

The benefits of light music and love songs were even greater than that of laughter, the investigation showed.Most participants in the American study found John Denver-style country music the most uplifting, while "heavy metal" rock made them anxious.

Participants were asked to avoid listening to their favourite music for at least two weeks to minimise "emotional desensitisation".Ultrasound was used to test the functioning of an artery in the upper arm.

After listening to joyful music, volunteers' arteries opened 26 per cent wider on average during the cuff test than they did when no music was played.Playing music that participants found made them "anxious" caused the blood vessels to narrow by six per cent.

In another phase of the study, laughing at comedy videos led to a 19 per cent increase in dilation, while "relaxation" sounds raised it by 11 per cent.The findings were presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions meeting in New Orleans.

Joyful music was thought to trigger the release of endorphins, brain chemicals linked to emotion that are known to induce feelings of well-being.