Next time you need to relax, try putting on a record before you reach for the Xanax. According to research from Dr. Mike Miller of the University of Maryland Medical Center, listening to music you enjoy can open your blood vessels, increasing circulation as well as facilitating relaxation. Conversely, songs that make your cringe can actually restrict blood vessels and increase stress, so if you just can't understand why Animal Collective is so popular, quit trying! You may be putting your health at risk by listening to Merriweather Post Pavilion.

And just because hearing a certain track makes you feel really, really awesome, that doesn’t mean you should listen on repeat, says Miller:

“You just don't get that boost if you listen to the same song over and over again. You need to vary your songs, so when you hear the song fresh, it brings back the sense of joy and opens up the system."

The full study recommends music therapy as an important element of cardiovascular surgery recovery, as well as a useful tool in combating depression. So if Metal Machine Music is what calms you down, go ahead and play it loud. Just don’t play it too much or you’ll lose that magic feeling (and possibly get evicted). [The Daily Swarm]