Laughter is the Best Medicine :)

The following is a post from my colleague, Dr. Benjamin Voss.  Great information-enjoy!

Is Laughter really the Best Medicine?                                                                

 

This talk was originally presented on July 29, 2010 at Washington University School of Medicine Grand Rounds. This is backed by real research. Smile, it’s true.

 

I have always been told the laughter is the best medicine and when I finished residency, I was determined to investigate if this is indeed true. The story of the The Roseto Effect peaked my interest. In the 1950s, a visiting professor named Dr. Stewart Wolf noted that he rarely found anyone from Roseto, Pennsylvania under the age of 65 with heart disease. Their diet was high in fat consisting of lard, pizza, and biscotti, they smoked heavily, and the majority of them were overweight. After years of research, he concluded that their unique Community where they recreated their Italian heritage was health protective. They had three-generation family meals, talked to each other in the street, respected elders, enjoyed the calming effect of church, and had many civic organizations. The protective social structure insulated them from the pressures of the modern world.

 

Depression is obviously bad. However, its severity is traditionally underappreciated. Depression is an independent risk factor for developing heart disease and dying regardless of one’s other medial problems. Answering yes to “During the last month have you felt so sad, discouraged, hopeless, or had so many problems that you wondered if anything was worthwhile?" more than doubled one’s risk of developing heart disease. People with a Type A personality have a 2-fold increase risk of having a heart attack. Depression after a heart attack predicts the likelihood of death as much as developing heart failure after the heart attack. There are many physiological theories and explanations for this, but the key is that one’s body has “chronic sympathetic activation,” or a stressed body and mind all the time.

 

Positive affect, defined as “the experience of pleasurable emotions such as joy, happiness, excitement, enthusiasm, and contentment,” has the opposite effect on people. Comedian Bill Cosby once said “Immortality is a long shot, I admit. But somebody has to be first.” While humor is his occupation, the research actually supports his idea. Studies have shown people with a positive affect have better immune function and a greater resistance to upper respiratory infections. People who have hope and curiosity have lower blood pressure. Agreeing with one of the following four statements:“I felt that I was just as good as other people,” “I felt hopeful about the future,” “I was happy,” and “I enjoyed life,” showed a lower risk of stroke. While depression increases the risk of death in diabetics, positive affect lowers that risk. Hospitalized patients who answered yes to “I still enjoy things I used to enjoy” lived longer than patients who disagreed. Positive affect lowers the risk of death after a heart attack and in patients with AIDS. The physiological explanation here is enhanced parasympathetic activation, meaning lower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and increased glucose tolerance.

 

“Behavioral activation interventions” have been studied and these include increasing the frequency of enjoyable hobbies and activities. Exercise has been shown to reduce depression. Nutritional counseling in order to avoid overeating when stressed is important. Stress management options include yoga, vacations, and music. Social support is critical and walking groups are a great way to exercise and build community. So while it is critically important to take your medication and listen to your doctor, try adding a laugh or two to your daily routine.

 

Thank you Dr. Fuller for this opportunity to be a guest blogger. I do my best to get him to laugh everyday.