Why do we shy away from the colonoscopy? It just seems like such a fun experience! Well, I'm sure it will never be that but music seems to help with anxiety and the need for higher doses of medication before the procedure. There is a 90% cure rate when colon cancer is caught in its earliest stages.
We know that music can soothe us, lift our spirits, make us sad, give us energy and many other emotional responses. Its seems like a given that it would help patients better tolerate scans and procedures. If the tests are more anxiety free then more of us might actually make those appointments we keep putting off.
A study done by the doctors at Temple University in Philadelphia showed that music played during a colonoscopy procedure made some patients able to relax enough to require less sedation, without sacrificing comfort.
According to Benjamin Krevsky, M.D., M.P.H., "Over all, colonoscopies are very, very safe and while the risk of sedatives are relatively small, in general, less medication is always better. Offering music has no down side, it may prove beneficial, and patients appear to be satisfied with the procedure."
I myself am guilty of putting off the colonoscopy. Since I was diagnosed with breast cancer my oncologist has been recommending the procedure. ok, so ..
What kind of music goes with a colonoscopy? hmmmm...
1. I conducted a similar study many years ago at Yale Medical School. We used VR headsets and relaxing ocean scenes for patients having surgery under local anesthesia with sedation while awake. There was a dramatic reduction in anxiety and pain. Similar effects have been found for accupuncture and hypnosis.
Posted at 12:33AM on Sep 29th 2006 by Steven F.Palter, MD