Emotional wellness is tied to physical health. Laughter has a potential role in maintaining cardiovascular health. Research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine explored how emotions, particularly laughter, and stress, impact our blood vessels. According to the research Laughter seems to prompt the inner lining of blood vessels, known as the endothelium, to widen and facilitate greater blood circulation, hence boosting cardiovascular health.
20 healthy volunteers, evenly split between men and women, with an average age of 33, were asked to watch different movies to test their blood vessels. The researchers compared the effects of laughter and stress on blood vessel reactivity, noting that laughter had a positive impact like the benefits observed from aerobic exercise, while stress had a detrimental effect on blood vessels.
“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,” says principal investigator Michael Miller, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Centre and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “At the very least, laughter offsets the impact of mental stress, which is harmful to the endothelium.”
The research advises:
- The study indicates that laughter has a positive effect on blood vessels, just like exercising. Therefore, incorporating laughter into daily life might contribute to maintaining healthy blood vessel function.
- While emphasizing the importance of laughter, the researchers don’t recommend replacing exercise with laughter. Instead, they suggest a balanced approach—30 minutes of exercise three times a week alongside 15 minutes of daily laughter might be beneficial for the vascular system.
- Managing, and reducing mental stress could potentially benefit cardiovascular health. Laughing might counteract the negative effects of stress on blood vessels.