Listening to calming music at bedtime may improve sleep

Listening to calming music is often recommended as one way to help chill out prior to hitting the hay - but does it actually work? Well, according to a new study, playing soothing tunes for at least half an hour before bed may make a difference.

Researchers from the National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Taiwan combined the results of past studies involving over 280 participants to understand the effect that listening to music can have on the quality of sleep in adults over the age of 60.

They found that those who listened to calming music with a slow tempo of 60 to 80 beats per minute slept better than those who played rhythmic music.

Additionally, listening to calming music for 30 minutes to an hour before bed also had an impact on sleep quality.

"Calming music may improve sleep by slowing your heart rate and breathing, and lowering your blood pressure. This, in turn helps lower your levels of stress and anxiety," the study authors hypothesised. "Researchers also learned that listening to music for longer than four weeks is better at improving sleep quality than listening to music for a shorter length of time."

And while the team did not single out which type of calming music improved sleep the most, they insisted there is no harm in popping on some quiet classical or mellow piano at night.

"If you're having trouble sleeping, listening to music can be a safe, effective, and easy way to help you fall and stay asleep. It may also reduce your need for medication to help you sleep," they concluded.

Full study results have been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.