Singing for lung health - Institute for Respiratory Health

Singing for lung health

Wednesday, December 14, 2022 | News

We all love to hear carol singers performing but did you know that singing is good for your lung health?

Professor Yuben Moodley from the Institute for Respiratory Health said, “There’s increasing research evidence that singing is good for your general health and wellbeing – especially if you join a community singing group or choir.

“And it’s particularly good at improving your quality of life if you have a lung condition.

“Because singing involves deep breathing and the controlled use of muscles in the respiratory system, it can be beneficial for lung and breathing conditions.

“Research shows that it increases the amount of oxygen in your blood. The other health benefits include improved mood and a greater sense of connection.”

Studies have shown that singing benefits people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma and cystic fibrosis.

“People who join singing groups say that singing regularly reduces their feelings of being short of breath,” Professor Moodley said.

“It also helps them to feel more in control of their breathing and improves posture – there are many benefits.”

Rosemary Hawkins, from Innaloo, says singing has given her more endurance, “I joined the Choir of Hard Knocks a while ago, at first it was a bit of a struggle singing but now I’m less out of breath and it’s increased the strength of my voice.”

Whether you have a lung condition or not, singing is uplifting and joyful particularly during the festive season if you are part of a group of carol singers.

You don’t need to be able to sing to join a singing group. You will probably find you can sing a lot better than you think.

There are several choirs you can join all over Perth including: