First-of-its-Kind Study Finds Cardiovascular Improvement in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease Who Exercised laughter therapy.
Coronary artery disease, caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart, is one of the most common diseases in the world.
From drugs to surgery, there are many interventions that can help treat a potentially fatal condition. However, a new study suggests that laughter may also help.
Study, yet to be peer-reviewed, has shown that laughter therapy can increase the functionality of the cardiovascular system, including the heart, lungs, arteries and veins.
“The research team noticed a reduction in inflammation and improved health outcomes among patients with coronary heart disease who were treated with this therapy,” says cardiologist Oleg Varfolomeev, commenting on the study exclusively for MedicForum.
Coronary heart disease occurs when the coronary arteries of the heart have difficulty supplying the organ with enough blood, oxygen and nutrients.
“Laughing sessions can cause tissues inside the heart to expand, potentially leading to an increase in oxygen flow through the body.”
Examining 26 adults with a mean age of 64 between August 2016 and December 2020, research team measured the subjects' oxygen consumption and dilation of their main artery as blood flow increased.
In addition, they also measured the levels of molecules in the body of patients that indicate inflammation, such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), and intercellular adhesion molecule. (ICAM).
Thirteen study participants were assigned to a group that received laughter therapy by watching two TV shows of their choice per week, while the remaining 13 participants, who served as a control group, watched “neutral documentaries”.
“The results showed an increase in the maximum oxygen consumption of the body and an improvement in tissue function, as well as markers of inflammation in the body.”
This study is the first controlled clinical trial evaluating the effects of laughter therapy rehabilitation on patients with coronary heart disease.
The study also confirms previous studies that suggested that a good laugh causes the body to release endorphins, hormones that may reduce stress and inflammation, and help the heart and blood vessels relax.
Based on these new findings, scientists believe that laughter therapy may represent “an effective form of cardiac rehabilitation in this patient population.”
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MedicalForum previously wrote about the symptom of venous insufficiency.
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