Laughter Raises Good Cholesterol, May Lower Heart Attack Risk

A study presented at the American Physiological Society's annual meeting last year found that a daily bout of humor could affect very tangible changes in blood lipids and markers of inflammation.¹

Here's a short video that describes the study's findings:



In the study, 20 diabetes patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia were assigned either to a laughter group or a control group. All received meds for diabetes (glipizide, thiazolidinediones, metformin), hypertension (ACE inhibitor or ARB) and hyperlipidemia (statins). The laughter group watched at least 30 minutes a day of a self-selected humor video. (Self-selected ... "Funny" is very subjective.)

At the end of a year:

• HDL cholesterol rose 26% in laughter group.
  
• HDL cholesterol rose 3 % in control group.
  
  
• C-reactive protein decreased 66% in the laughter group.
  
• C-reactive protein decreased 26% in control group.

C-reactive protein is a marker of inflammation. The laughter group also had lower levels of the inflammatory markers TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6, as well as lower epinephrine and norepinephrine levels by the second month, which may indicate reduced stress.

"The authors conclude that mirthful laughter may thus lower the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome."

One of the authors, Dr. Berk, added:

"The best clinicians understand that there is an intrinsic physiological intervention brought about by positive emotions such as mirthful laughter, optimism and hope."

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¹ Mirthful Laughter, As Adjunct Therapy In Diabetic Care, Increases HDL Cholesterol And Attenuates Inflammatory Cytokines And C-RP And Possible CVD Risk, The FASEB Journal, 2009

American Physiological Society Press Release:
"Mirthful Laughter," Coupled With Standard Diabetic Treatment, Raises Good Cholesterol And May Lower Heart Attack Risk, April 2009