What the Experts Say

Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have been studying the effects of laughter on the immune system. To date their published studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.

In a paper presented at a recent American College of Cardiology meeting in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Michael Miller., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine reported that he measured the blood flow of 20 healthy volunteers before and after they watched two different movies ? a war movie and a comedy. The results were amazing - blood flow decreased by an average of 35 percent during the war movie and increased by an average of 22 percent during the comedy.

Dr. Miller concluded that laughter may be almost as healthful as exercise. "The ability to laugh -- either naturally or as learned behavior -- may have important implications in societies such as the U.S. where heart disease remains the number one killer," says Miller. "We know that exercising, not smoking and eating foods low in saturated fat will reduce the risk of heart disease. Perhaps regular, hearty laughter should be added to the list." "We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack."

"The old saying that 'laughter is the best medicine,' definitely appears to be true when it comes to protecting your heart," says Michael Miller, M.D . Miller says it may be possible to incorporate laughter into our daily activities, just as we do with other heart-healthy activities, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. "We could perhaps read something humorous or watch a funny video and try to find ways to take ourselves less seriously," Miller says. "The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be exercise, eat right and laugh a few times a day."

Dr. Wei Jiang of Duke University studied over 1,000 heart failure patients and discovered that those with mild depression had a 44 percent higher risk of death. In other words, a joyful attitude is good for your heart and helps you live longer.

The study of the therapeutic benefits of laughter began about 20 years ago when Norman Cousins? Anatomy of an Illness told his story of overcoming a fatal disease by watching old Charlie Chaplin silent comedies. Cousins didn't claim any medical knowledge, but he did believe that ??laughter is an antidote to apprehension and panic.? . He said that 10 minutes of laughter allowed him two hours of pain-free sleep. He had ankylosing spondylitis, a painful spine condition.

Many hospitals today encourage patients to laugh. Some have comedy rooms with gag props and costumes, TV comedy channels and regular visits from clowns.

What Laughter Does to Your Body

It causes the muscles in your body to relax . A good hearty laugh exercises the diaphragm leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It also provides a good workout for the heart.

Laughter reduces the hormones associated with the stress response (flight or fight). Cortisol, epinephrine, adrenaline, dopamine are all reduced.

Clinical studies have shown that humor strengthens the immune system.

Laughter can lower your blood pressure.

In a study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing, hospital patients were told one-line jokes after surgery and before painful medication was administered. Those exposed to humor felt they had less pain when compared to patients who didn't get a dose of humor as part of their therapy.