A Laugh A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

[COUNTRYBUMPKIN]

A Laugh A Day Keeps
The Doctor Away
HealthTalk.ca
3-9-5

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, have discovered laughter can help keep your heart healthy.

They presented their study results at the Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology this week in Orlando, Florida.

The team found that laughter-provoking movies cause the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, to dilate or expand, resulting in an increase of blood flow.

For their experiment, the team recruited 20 healthy volunteers to watch two segments of movies at the extreme ends of the emotional spectrum - "King Pin" and "Saving Private Ryan."

They found that when the study subjects watched a movie that caused laughter, beneficial blood vessel relaxation or vasodilation was increased in 19 of the 20 volunteers. In contrast, Brachial artery flow was reduced in 14 of the 20 volunteers following the movie clips that caused mental stress.

The team said overall, blood flow increased by 22 percent during laughter and decreased by 35 percent after watching a clip that caused mental stress.

Lead researcher Dr. Michael Miller, indicated people should combine regular exercise with 15 minutes of laughter a day for good cardiovascular health.

"It is conceivable that laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease," said Miller.

Copyright © Health Talk

http://www.healthtalk.ca/laugh_heart_030905_288211.php

[jlxian]

I had heard that laughter is good for you ---

I remember my mother telling me about a man, I think it was Norman Cousins?, who was diagnosed with some kind of a chronic debilitating disease. He rented funny movies (this was before VHS or DVDs!!!) and watched them all day. He was eventually relieved of many of his terrible symptoms. I am not sure if he was ever actually cured, but he certainly promoted the idea that the laughter had been a major contributing factor in his healing.

And as an old boss of mine used to say, "You gotta have a little fun everyday."

[homesteadmamma]

Prov. 17:22 says .... A cheerful heart is good medicine.

I think laughter fits in with a cheerful heart and I would agree, laughter is healthy for our bodies.