The worsening of a disease/condition over time
A formal documentation when someone else is given the responsibility to manage your affairs and make certain decisions on your behalf
Refers to the lungs
A group of tests used to check how well the lungs take in and release air and how well they supply oxygen to the rest of the body14
A type of high blood pressure that affects the blood vessels to the lungs and the right side of the heart15
Therapy that provides relief from symptoms to help patients live more comfortably with their disease13
Administration of oxygen as a medical intervention11
A small plastic tube or prongs that fit in the nostrils to deliver supplementary oxygen11
Listening to and playing music as a therapy which aims to ease the symptoms of those living with IPF
A sleep disorder characterised by breathing that repeatedly stops and starts during sleep12
A specialist who helps someone recover or live with their symptoms more easily
A machine that removes other gases from the air to provide oxygen for oxygen therapy11
An education and exercise program designed to improve the quality of life for people with lung conditions16
A physician specialised in lung problems (also known as a respirologist)
A product that gives protection against a specific infection
A test used to monitor oxygen levels in a patient’s blood, usually with a non-invasive sensor11
A breathing technique to help control breathlessness and reduce anxiety17
A disease that affects only a small percentage of the population
Something that is associated with an increased risk of disease or infection
A technique that helps to reduce stress and anxiety by helping to understand and manage your emotions
Therapies used alongside conventional treatments that help treat symptoms and may improve overall physical and mental wellbeing
A medical study that investigates how safe and effective a new therapy or technique is for treating a certain disease
A disease or condition that occurs at the same time as another disease or condition
A device to deliver compressed air to improve sleep in people with obstructive sleep apnoea6
A disease where a waxy substance (plaque) builds up inside the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle7
A type of chronic disease that typically worsens over time and is characterized by long-term breathing problems and poor airflow. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are older terms used for COPD5
Refers to the heart, and blood vessels
A type of medication that aims to slow the scarring and stiffening of lungs to slow disease progression2
Tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the blood takes place
A test that shows how well the lungs are working by measuring how much oxygen and carbon dioxide is in the blood. This test requires that a small volume of blood be drawn from the patient3
Techniques that involve breathing in a certain way to control breathlessness and strengthen your lungs
A procedure in which a bronchoscope (a medical instrument like a tube) is passed through the mouth or nose into the lung and fluid is squirted into a small part of the lung and then collected for examination4
A lung condition where the air sacs within the lungs (alveoli) become damaged5
Extreme weariness resulting from exertion or illness
Of unknown cause
Rapid and uncontrolled breathing
A disease where there is progressive scarring or thickening of the lungs without a known cause4
The surgical removal of cells or tissue samples from the lung for examination by a pathologist10
The lung tissue becomes thickened and stiff
A test that uses a type of X-ray that produces multiple, detailed images of areas inside the body4
A burning sensation in the chest, which can spread to the throat, along with a sour taste in the mouth
Where inflamed tissue is replaced with scar tissue, making it thicken and become stiffer4
A symptom where the ends of the fingers become wider and rounder8
A digestive disease where stomach acid moves up out of the stomach and irritates the lining of the food pipe (oesophagus)9
A physician specializing in the management of diseases of the digestive system
An event characterized by sudden, severe worsening of symptoms or an increase in disease severity1
Music therapy is more than just a form of entertainment. It may also help to improve the health of those suffering from respiratory conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis.1
Playing an instrument can be an exercise in itself; especially if that instrument is in the brass (trumpets, horns) or woodwind family (flute, saxophone). To play these instruments correctly, a certain level of breathing control is needed to be able to apply the right amount of air in intervals timed with the music.2
How music therapy can help you
For those struggling from a lung condition, the idea of playing a musical instrument can seem very optimistic. However, the practice of physically exercising the lungs through playing these instruments can help to gradually improve quality of life.2
Some of the potential benefits of music therapy for exercising the lungs are:2
- Improvement in physical symptoms
- Overall quality of life
- Mental wellbeing
If you are looking to gain some of the physical benefits of music therapy by playing an instrument, it is best to start slow. Long term, a woodwind or brass instrument can help, however it may be best to start with an instrument you feel comfortable with. Use your best judgement on which instrument is best for you.
Challenging instruments:2
- Woodwind instrument: saxophone
- Brass instruments: trumpet
Less demanding instruments:2
- Woodwind instrument: flute
- Brass instrument: harmonica
Although music therapy may help to ease the symptoms in people living with lung disease, it cannot treat the underlying causes of the condition itself. Make sure you speak to your treatment team if you plan on playing or taking up an instrument.
The worsening of a disease/condition over time
A formal documentation when someone else is given the responsibility to manage your affairs and make certain decisions on your behalf
Refers to the lungs
A group of tests used to check how well the lungs take in and release air and how well they supply oxygen to the rest of the body14
A type of high blood pressure that affects the blood vessels to the lungs and the right side of the heart15
Therapy that provides relief from symptoms to help patients live more comfortably with their disease13
Administration of oxygen as a medical intervention11
A small plastic tube or prongs that fit in the nostrils to deliver supplementary oxygen11
Listening to and playing music as a therapy which aims to ease the symptoms of those living with IPF
A sleep disorder characterised by breathing that repeatedly stops and starts during sleep12
A specialist who helps someone recover or live with their symptoms more easily
A machine that removes other gases from the air to provide oxygen for oxygen therapy11
An education and exercise program designed to improve the quality of life for people with lung conditions16
A physician specialised in lung problems (also known as a respirologist)
A product that gives protection against a specific infection
A test used to monitor oxygen levels in a patient’s blood, usually with a non-invasive sensor11
A breathing technique to help control breathlessness and reduce anxiety17
A disease that affects only a small percentage of the population
Something that is associated with an increased risk of disease or infection
A technique that helps to reduce stress and anxiety by helping to understand and manage your emotions
Therapies used alongside conventional treatments that help treat symptoms and may improve overall physical and mental wellbeing
A medical study that investigates how safe and effective a new therapy or technique is for treating a certain disease
A disease or condition that occurs at the same time as another disease or condition
A device to deliver compressed air to improve sleep in people with obstructive sleep apnoea6
A disease where a waxy substance (plaque) builds up inside the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle7
A type of chronic disease that typically worsens over time and is characterized by long-term breathing problems and poor airflow. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are older terms used for COPD5
Refers to the heart, and blood vessels
A type of medication that aims to slow the scarring and stiffening of lungs to slow disease progression2
Tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the blood takes place
A test that shows how well the lungs are working by measuring how much oxygen and carbon dioxide is in the blood. This test requires that a small volume of blood be drawn from the patient3
Techniques that involve breathing in a certain way to control breathlessness and strengthen your lungs
A procedure in which a bronchoscope (a medical instrument like a tube) is passed through the mouth or nose into the lung and fluid is squirted into a small part of the lung and then collected for examination4
A lung condition where the air sacs within the lungs (alveoli) become damaged5
Extreme weariness resulting from exertion or illness
Of unknown cause
Rapid and uncontrolled breathing
A disease where there is progressive scarring or thickening of the lungs without a known cause4
The surgical removal of cells or tissue samples from the lung for examination by a pathologist10
The lung tissue becomes thickened and stiff
A test that uses a type of X-ray that produces multiple, detailed images of areas inside the body4
A burning sensation in the chest, which can spread to the throat, along with a sour taste in the mouth
Where inflamed tissue is replaced with scar tissue, making it thicken and become stiffer4
A symptom where the ends of the fingers become wider and rounder8
A digestive disease where stomach acid moves up out of the stomach and irritates the lining of the food pipe (oesophagus)9
A physician specializing in the management of diseases of the digestive system
An event characterized by sudden, severe worsening of symptoms or an increase in disease severity1
If you are thinking of trying music therapy for the first time, consider picking one of the simpler instruments that are likely to be less challenging to learn and less taxing on your lungs
Key Takeaways
-
Music therapy can be an enjoyable and effective way to strengthen the lungs
-
Playing a brass or woodwind instrument helps to improve breathing control
-
Some instruments are more challenging than others. Try a simple one if it is your first time
Show references
Hide references
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1.
Canga B., et al. AIR: Advances in Respiration - Music therapy in the treatment of chronic pulmonary disease. Respir Med. 2015; 109:1532-9.
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2.
Lung Institute. Can Music Treat COPD? Available at: https://lunginstitute.com/blog/can-music-treat-copd/. [Accessed April 2019]
