Heart Experts Recommend Taylor Swift’s Music for Saving Lives
Scientists have discovered that over 50 songs by Taylor Swift have a tempo that is ideal for administering efficient chest compressions during CPR performed outside of a medical facility. They anticipate that Swift’s music could serve as a tool to educate both fans and the general public on CPR techniques, potentially leading to life-saving interventions.
Dear Reader, the intersection of popular culture and medical science has come together, thanks to the groundbreaking efforts of researchers at Monash University’s Victorian Heart Institute. They have identified more than 50 Taylor Swift songs with beats per minute (bpm) ideally suited for administering effective CPR. It is anticipated that individuals, particularly younger fans of Swift, will utilize her music to enhance their CPR proficiency, enabling them to provide life-saving assistance with tracks like “Don’t Go” or “Soon You’ll Get Better” when the need arises.
Enhancing Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates through Bystander CPR
Bystander CPR plays a crucial role in enhancing survival rates during out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Individuals experiencing cardiac arrest are nearly twice as likely to survive when bystanders administer CPR while waiting for emergency responders. However, effective CPR necessitates maintaining a chest compression rate ranging between 100 and 120 beats per minute (bpm). Upon analyzing the musical catalog of the singer, researchers observed that several of her songs fell within this optimal range. They presented their findings at Swiftposium 2024, an academic conference centered around Taylor Swift.
Stephen Nicholls, the director of the Victorian Heart Institute and the Victorian Heart Hospital, emphasized the significance of bystander CPR in improving survival rates for cardiac arrest cases. He stated, “A quarter of individuals who suffer a heart attack do not reach the hospital initially, and we understand that survival rates for cardiac arrest can be significantly enhanced with bystander CPR.” Nicholls highlighted the popularity and influence of Taylor Swift’s music among the current generation, noting that music plays a vital role in maintaining effective CPR compressions. He underscored the importance of identifying new songs with the optimal bpm for training as iconic tunes become less relevant over time.
The Need for Contemporary Music with Suitable Beats per Minute
For an extended period, the Bee Gees’ track “Stayin’ Alive” has served as a reference point for timing CPR compressions. However, released in 1977, the song may not be familiar to many of today’s younger individuals. Researchers suggest that it would be more beneficial to utilize music from a contemporary artist currently experiencing widespread popularity. Additionally, “Stayin’ Alive,” with its tempo of 103 beats per minute (bpm), falls toward the lower end of the effectiveness range; the optimal song should ideally have a tempo closer to 120 bpm.
Nicholls expressed, “Harnessing something beloved by people to empower them in mastering a skill that could potentially save a life is incredibly impactful. There exists a CPR-appropriate song for every era of Swift fans.”
Taylor Swift’s Playlist
There are a total of 54 songs from Swift’s catalog that are perfectly suited in terms of beats per minute (bpm). The researchers have compiled a convenient chart categorized by era, listing the bpm for each song. Moreover, to simplify matters, they have curated a Spotify playlist named ‘Taylor Swift CPR Compatible Songs’.
Inspiring Heart Health
Swift’s music is already inspiring an interest in activities related to heart health, as demonstrated by the recent viral ‘Eras Tour’ treadmill challenge. In this challenge, fans run or walk on a treadmill for the entire three-hour setlist of Swift’s tour, mirroring her own commitment as she mentioned in her Time Person of the Year 2023 article.
Nicholls commented, “Engaging in physical activity offers significant benefits for heart health and can help reduce the risk of disease. Even dedicating as little as 10 minutes a day to exercise can be beneficial as you gradually increase your fitness level. You don’t have to match Taylor’s energy right from the start.”
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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