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“Laughter is the best medicine,” as the old saying goes, has once again received scientific validation. Researchers from the clinical hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil, conducted a groundbreaking study on the influence of laughter on patients with heart conditions. This was reported by The Guardian.
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiologists in Amsterdam, the world’s largest heart conference.
How the Research was Conducted
The study involved 26 middle-aged adults with an average age of 64, all diagnosed with ischemic heart disease. The cause of their condition was the accumulation of plaques on the walls of arteries supplying blood to the heart.
Over three months, half of the participants watched two different one-hour comedy programs every week, including popular sitcoms. The other half watched two different serious documentary films on topics related to politics or global warming.
How Laughter Affects Heart Health
The comedy group improved by 10% in a test measuring the volume of oxygen that the heart can pump through the body. The group also showed improvement in a second measurement that assessed how well arteries could expand.
These participants also experienced a significant reduction of inflammatory biomarkers in their blood compared to the control group. Such markers indicate the extent of plaque buildup in the blood vessels and the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
The lead author, Professor Marco Saffi, stated that laughter therapy is an effective intervention. It can help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Laughter helps the heart because it releases endorphins, which reduce inflammation and helps the heart and blood vessels relax. It also reduces the levels of stress hormones, which place strain on the heart. People should try to do things that make them laugh at least twice a week.
The lead author, Prof Marco Saffi, of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre in Brazil
Saffi added that laughter also aids in reducing the number of medications taken by individuals with heart conditions.
Researchers plan to continue studying the effects of laughter therapy on the heart. They aim to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms through which laughter influences cardiovascular health.
