Long, P. (1987, October). Laugh and be well. Psychology Today.

OVERVIEW

This article suggests that if stress and negative emotions can suppress the immune system, laughter and feelings of trust and hope can augment the healing process and possibly prolong life. Although little research has been done, many now consider this as a way of treating illnesses. Preliminary data appear to support the theory that laughter is beneficial. However, hard proof is hard to come by.

STUDIES

David McClelland, a psychologist at Boston University, examined the effects of different emotions on the immune system. Laughing appears to affect the secretory immunoglobin A (s-IgA), which is the first line of defense against invaders of the nose and mouth.

Lee Berk, an immunologist at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, is currently looking at changes in the hormones and white blood cells during laughter. Preliminary data supports the theory that laughter is beneficial.

Paoli Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania found that patients whose rooms look out on trees experience less pain, fewer complications, and faster recovery than patients who faced brick walls and rooftops.

The wellness community in Santa Monica, California, incorporates positive emotions into its therapies. The belief is that survival rates are higher when one has a fighting spirit than when one slips into a state of hopelessness.

Sabina White studied the calming effect of laughter. Humor reduced stress, but everybody did not benefit equally. Using laughter to relax seems to be a learned skill.

Vera Robinson, chair of the nursing department at California State University at Fullerton, has researched the effects of laughter for 20 years. When a patient’s anxiety is reduced before an operation he or she does better postoperatively. Laughing 100-200 times a day is equal to about 10 minutes of rowing. Hearty laughter causes huffing and puffing similar to that resulting from exercise. It speeds up the heart rate, raises blood pressure, accelerates breathing and increases oxygen consumption. A robust laugh gives the muscles of the face, shoulders, diaphragm and abdomen a vigorous workout. As laughter subsides, a brief period of relaxation sets in.

Dr. Carl Simonton says: "Being hopeful that you can get well doesn’t mean that you will, but it does mean that there are still possibilities; you can stay involved. This affects not only the quality of life but the quality of death." Many doctors agree that solid proof is hard to come by, but there is a substantial amount of preliminary data that supports the belief that laughter and feelings of hope do promote healing.

IMPLICATIONS

1. We have all heard the adage "laughter is the best medicine." There seems to be some truth to it.
2. One needs to really analyze how one feels after a good laugh. Does it promote a sense of relaxation and therefore relieve stress?
3. We need to be able to laugh at ourselves and the things around us. Life is often taken much too seriously.
4. When life is taken too seriously we tend to focus on self and not others. We feel that we can be complete without being with and helping others. If humor has a positive effect then we need to build it into who we are as people and make life healthier and more enjoyable for others as well as ourselves.

Anne Montague cCYS