Tuesday, March 08, 2005
The science of laughter
The best news I've read all week:
I'm guessing it's all of the above.
The next time it occurs to you to be annoyed because of somebody laughing in public, think about doing a bit of it yourself. Don't be a sourpuss. There's a lot of hearty, life-prolonging laughs to be had.
Laughter is good for the heart because it prolongs life while depression increases the risk of an early death, according to two new studies...
Miller said laughter produced a "magnitude of change ... in the endothelium ... similar to the benefit we might see with aerobic activity, but without the aches, pains and muscle tension associated with exercise".
Miller said: "The endothelium is the first line in the development of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, so, given the results of our study, it is conceivable that laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease."
However, the researcher was unable to explain the physiology of laughter's benefits.
"Does it come from the movement of the diaphragm muscles as you chuckle or guffaw, or does it come from a chemical release triggered by laughter, such as endorphins?
I'm guessing it's all of the above.
The next time it occurs to you to be annoyed because of somebody laughing in public, think about doing a bit of it yourself. Don't be a sourpuss. There's a lot of hearty, life-prolonging laughs to be had.
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