Music may make a difference for colonoscopy patients
There's no way around it. Colonoscopies are just something we have to do. They are the best method of early intervention for colon cancer and so, despite the icky factors at play and immodesty of it all, we simply just have to (sorry for this) grin and bare it.Could music make a difference in how this procedure plays out?
A study recently presented to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy indicates that listening to music leads to less sedation during colonoscopies. All participants in the study were given an initial dose of sedative for the procedure and some were given the opportunity to listen to music of their choice. While additional doses of the sedative were administered as necessary, the study showed that the patients with music needed approximately one less dose than those who enjoyed the silence. All participants, earbuds or not, reported similar levels of discomfort.
While listening to music seems like a common sense way to get through a not-so-pretty procedure, the best part of this news comes from a summary by the lead author. While colonoscopies are safe and the risks of sedation are low, the researcher said, "in general, less medication is better." Amen to that.
Now, for the really important question: When you're downloading songs in preparation for your next colonoscopy, is it entirely inappropriate to put Sir-Mix-A-Lot on your iPod?
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