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Laughter Improves Blood Vessel Functioning
A new study shows that laughter helps expand or dilate blood vessels, which in turn improves blood flow. People who watched a 15-minute comedy video scored higher on a survey of hopefulness compared to those who didn't get the chance to laugh. The finding suggests humor could be a strategy to relieve stress and maintain well-being, the researchers say. The work was published recently in the International Journal of Humor Research.
Previous studies have revealed laughter is good medicine. A report released from the University of Maryland Medical Center found laughter makes blood vessels function better, causing the tissue that lines the vessels to expand, increasing blood flow. A previous study at the same institution concluded that laughter and an active sense of humor may protect against heart attacks. Other surveys have found that humor can relieve stress and contribute to a person's overall well-being.
Laugher can stimulate thought and cause you to toss out automatic behavioral responses in favor of more creative pursuits. That leads to a greater sense of self worth and a tendency to develop plans of attack for dealing with problems. The study involved 200 people aged 18-42. It measured not only smiles and laughter, but included surveys to reveal other ways participants reacted to humor.
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