There is increasing scientific interest in the possibility that positive emotional states are beneficial to health.
Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore have recently shown for the first time that laughter is linked to healthy function of blood vessels.
Volunteers were shown funny and stressful movies to test the effect of emotions on blood vessels. Stress caused blood flow to slow by around 35%, but laughter increased it by around 22%.
The current study builds on earlier research the same team of cardiologists conducted in 2000, which suggested that laughter, along with an active sense of humour, may help prevent heart disease. In that study, answers to questionnaires indicated that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease.
Another US research led by Dr Margaret Stuber found that laughter helped children dealing with hospital pain. According to the researchers, the healing power of humour can reduce pain and stimulate immune function in children with cancer, Aids or diabetes and in children receiving organ transplants and bone marrow treatments.
Hospitals in the UK have recognised the power of laughter and some use "clown doctors" to go into children’s wards and inject a bit of fun.
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References:
Press release "Laughter helps blood vessels function better"
Press release "Laughter is good for your heart"
Press release "Laughter Tested as Pain Therapy for Children"
