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Health scan
Laugh your heart out
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A hearty laugh is great for your health
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Health tip Light up your life with a good giggle
A new study demonstrates that laughing causes the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, to expand and thereby increase blood flow - exactly what aerobic exercise does.
Research findings
In a study presented by the American College of Cardiology in Orlando, Fla., researchers had 20 healthy volunteers watch a 15-minute segment from Kingpin, a 1996 Woody Harrelson comedy, and then 48 hours later view the opening battle scene from Saving Private Ryan, the 1998 war movie starring Tom Hanks.
After each movie was shown, researchers used ultrasound to measure changes in blood vessel reactivity.
On average, blood flow increased 22 per cent after the Harrelson movie, comparable to the increase brought on by aerobic exercise, and decreased 35 per cent after Saving Private Ryan.
Viewing effect
While a comedy can be good for people, a stress-inducing movie can have a negative effect on cardiac health, said Dr. Michael Miller, lead author of the study.
"There is great variability among people," Miller said, "but anything that evokes an emotional response has an impact on the heart" and the impact can be negative as well as positive.
Miller speculates that laughter induces the release of beneficial endorphins, just as exercise does.
The New York Times
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