“Mirthful Laughter,” Coupled With Standard Diabetic Treatment, Raises Good Cholesterol And May Lower Heart Attack Risk

This is an interesting study in the American Physiological Society looking at how mirthful laughter affects diabetes, good cholesterol and heart attack risk..

The full research paper can be found here:http://www.the-aps.org/mm/hp/Audiences/Public-Press/Archive/09/13.html

“The study suggests that the addition of an adjunct therapeutic  mirthful laughter Rx (a potential modulator of positive mood state) to standard diabetes care may lower stress and inflammatory response and increase “good” cholesterol levels.  The authors conclude that mirthful laughter may thus lower the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome.  Further studies need to be done to expand and elucidate these findings.

In describing himself as a “hardcore medical clinician and scientist,” Dr. Berk says, “the best clinicians understand that there is an intrinsic physiological intervention brought about by positive emotions such as mirthful laughter, optimism and hope.  Lifestyle choices have a significant impact on health and disease  and these are choices  which we and the patient exercise control relative to prevention and treatment.”