Now, more than ever, is a great time to listen to your favorite music.

New research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine provides evidence that music can improve one's heart and cardiovascular health.

"Research team concludes the cardiovascular benefits of music are similar to those found in their previous study of laughter."

Music, selected by study participants because it made them feel good and brought them a sense of joy, caused tissue in the inner lining of blood vessels to dilate (or expand) in order to increase blood flow. This healthy response matches what the same researchers found in a 2005 study of laughter. On the other hand, when study volunteers listened to music they perceived as stressful, their blood vessels narrowed, producing a potentially unhealthy response that reduces blood flow...

...Compared to baseline, the average upper arm blood vessel diameter increased 26 percent after the joyful music phase, while listening to music that caused anxiety narrowed blood vessels by six percent.  “I was impressed with the highly significant differences both before and after listening to joyful music as well as between joyful and anxious music,” says Dr. Miller.

During the laughter phase of the study, a 19 percent increase in dilation showed a significant trend. The relaxation phase increased dilation by 11 percent on average; a number that the investigators determined was not statistically significant.

So don't be shy! Crank up the radio and dance around your house. Not only will you burn calories and release endorphins (your body's feel-good hormones), but you will be increasing your cardiovascular strength as well.

And why not get your whole family involved as well? If nothing else they will at least be laughing