We've heard that listening to fast-paced music can improve exercise performance, but it seems that personalised music can also be good for the cardiovascular system, according to findings from the University of Maryland Medical Center in the US.

A 2008 study led by cardiologist Dr Mike Miller found that listening to your favourite music may be good for the heart.

When study participants listed to tunes that they knew made them feel good or joyful, the inner lining of their blood vessels expanded to increase blood flow.

On the other hand, when they listened to songs they perceived as stressful, their blood vessels narrowed.