Ills are reduced with the sound of music

If the sound of a favorite song fills you with glee, you are right -- music can help you heal, make you happy and get you going. In the Cleveland Clinic and at New York-Presbyterian, where we work, patients enjoy live music to help with recovery and reduce pain. Music is even thought to help fight off a cold or aid in cancer treatment.

Want to tune up your musical, magical healing powers? Here are five songs we like to help you along:

1. "Feelin' No Pain" (Josh Rouse): Great sounds distract you from the pain of arthritis, an injury or post-surgery. It's particularly helpful if you're also anxious -- and who wouldn't be with chronic pain?

2. "Bye Bye Blues" (Louis Armstrong): Feel more upbeat, ease depression and burnout; music stimulates release of mood-enhancing brain chemicals like the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin.

3. "I Care 4 You" (Aaliyah): If you're caring for someone with Alzheimer's, bring some tunes; it can help decrease anxiety and depression that often accompany the condition.

4. "Fixing a Broken Heart" (Azn Dreamers): Recuperating from heart surgery? Tunes may ease anxiety and help reduce blood pressure, lower heart and breathing rate, and ease pain.

5. "Get Up and Go" (The Go-Go's): Don't have the motivation to work out? Harness the benefits of upbeat music for your heart, bones, brain and more. You'll go further, with more intensity and less discomfort.