Find Out How Laughter, Scientifically, Is Truly a Medicine for You
Posted: Sunday, April 26, 2009
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
At a recent meeting of the American College of Cardiology, Michael Miller, M.D., of the University of Maryland reported that in a study of 20 healthy people, provoking laughter did as much good for their arteries as aerobic activity. Wow!
The famous and hilarious comedian, Groucho Marx once said, "A clown is like an aspirin, only he works twice as fast." Who would have thought he was right! Laughter helps cardiologic health by causing the inner linings of blood vessels to relax and expand, increasing blood flow.
* Increase in T cells, which attack viruses, foreign cells and cancer cells.
* Increases in a blood chemical that transmits messages in the nervous system and that stimulates the immune system.
* A rise in immunoglobulin A, an antibody that fight upper respiratory tract infections; and more immunoglobulins G and M, which help fight other infections.
There is also evidence it reduces blood sugar levels and increases glucose tolerance. Moreover, on a more non-scientific note it restores a positive emotional climate and a sense of connection between people, which is calming and relaxing.
As a child, I read years and years of The Readers Digest magazine my parents had lying around the house. One of the monthly features was, and I believe still is, entitled Laughter, the Best Medicine. I never took the title completely literally, but now I do.
And let's not forget, laughter makes us feel great-it's fun. When I was in elementary school, I was sort of a class clown as were a few of my close friends. Some days we literally had stomach cramps from laughing so much. Of course, school was not the place to laugh to your hearts content, but boy, do I miss laughing like that. Maybe if I had told the nuns in my Catholic school that it was good for me they would have understood. Naw!
This Article has been viewed 1,067 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)Great article. Well done.I read about this in New Scientist and I agree with you.Thanks for the kind words! It's amazing that laughing is good for us--it's about time something good is good for us. Thanks for writing.Steve
Steve:A well written article, thanks for sharing this one.The CEO of my company actually hires people if they smile and laugh in an interview-it's kind of a pre-requsite you can say, to see if they will fit the 'mold' or our organization. He's often told us, if we can't find the ability to laugh during our day, then maybe we aren't satisified with our daily vocation. He's so right. Thankfully, I am blessed with a job that I love, and often find myself laughing during my work day.The world is filled with newstories of tragedy and sadness on a daily basis. I think finding ways to interject humor in our days, to laugh with others (and even at ourselves) helps breed the positive infectious behavior in others.Again, thanks for sharing.Your CEO sounds smart--what a great idea to use that in the hiring process--you probably not only have healthier employees but happier ones! Thanks for writing.Steve
It is amusing how the scientific or medical community keeps lagging and trailing the biblical truth. Centuries before these smart guys and gals conducted their research and studies, the wise King Solomon said, "A merry heart does good like medicine" (Proverbs 17:22). Paraphrase, "Laughter heals." Thanks, Steve, for taking the time to write this fine article and reinforce our need to laugh more. I really enjoyed reading your piece, and do plan to quote you the next time I address an audience on the need for greater laughter. ~mogama~Thanks Mogama—I'd consider it a privilege to have you quote anything I’ve opined on—keep on laughing as long as it’s not about me! Thanks again.
Steve,You are so right. It is a shame more people are unaware that happiness and laughter keep you healthier.I think I heard years ago that those who live the longest attribute their longevity to both happiness and laughter, tending not to be people who worry or live unhappy lives.Thanks for a great article and timely too!NancyThanks Nancy--with all the bad news around us, it's probably a good idea to try our best to laugh a little!!!
My husband and I laugh a lot together and we too believe it is great medicine. Thank you for a great article.Linda DThanks for writing Linda--how lucky you are to laugh with your spouce--many couples can hardly even talk to each other! Keep laughing Linda--you'll live to be 120!
Steve, it's written in my bio on my personal website that laughter is not only good medicine, for me, it is required! Thanks for sharing scientific proof of what a great sense of humor can do for the mind, body and soul!
Hi Avis--thanks for commenting--and your photo looks like you're a laugher and smiler--lucky you!
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.