- ALLERGY, RESPIRATORY
- Folic Acid Might Offer Allergy Relief
- Using Music and Sports to Improve Kids' Asthma
- Know Your Asthma Triggers
- ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
- Yoga May Bring Calm to Breast Cancer Treatment
- Placebo Acupuncture Tied to Higher IVF Pregnancies
- Ginger Can Ease Nausea From Chemotherapy Treatments
- ANIMAL CARE
- 'Comfort Dogs' Come to Emotional Rescue
- Separation Anxiety, Canine-Style
- Safe Toys for Dogs
- BONES & JOINTS
- Resistance Training Boosts Mobility in Knee Arthritis Patients
- Childhood Dairy Intake Boosts Bone Health Later On
- A Little Drink May Be Good for Your Bones
- CANCER
- Physical Activity May Prolong Survival After Colon Cancer
- Tanning Beds Shown To Raise Cancer Risk, Study Says
- Sharing Cancer Info May Be Empowering
- CAREGIVING
- Undoing the 'Big Baby' Trend
- Moms Who Breast-Feed Less Likely to Neglect Child
- MRSA Infections Spreading to Kids in Community
- CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
- Secondhand Smoke Quickly Affects Blood Vessels
- Firefighters Have Narrower-Than-Normal Arteries, Study Finds
- Obesity Linked to Heart Failure Risk
- COSMETIC
- Wrinkle Fillers Need Better Label Warnings: FDA Panel
- Contact Lenses Boost Kids' Self-Image
- Mouse Study Finds Molecule That Tells Hair to Grow
- DENTAL, ORAL
- Obesity Boosts Gum Disease Risk
- Amino Acid May Be Key to Strong Teeth
- Gum Care Helps Control Type 2 Diabetes and Its Complications
- DIABETES
- Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Updated
- Older Diabetics With Depression Face Higher Death Rate
- Diabetes Linked to Cognitive Problems
- DIET, NUTRITION
- Fruits, Vegetables, Teas May Cut Smokers' Cancer Risk
- Breakfast Eggs Keep Folks on Diet
- Marinades Help Keep Grilled Meat Safe
- DISABILITIES
- Review Finds Marijuana May Help MS Patients
- Could Your Cell Phone Help Shield You From Alzheimer's?
- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
- Exposure to 9/11 Fumes Tied to Chronic Headaches
- 1976 Italian Dioxin Release Damaged Babies' Thyroids
- Global Warming Linked to Heightened Kidney Stone Risk
- EYE CARE, VISION
- Clues Found to Brain Mechanism Behind Migraines
- Kids Think Glasses Make Others Look Smart, Honest
- Protein Might One Day Prevent Blindness
- FITNESS
- Bursts of Vigorous Activity Appear to Be a 'Stress-Buffer'
- Maximize Your Run
- Resistance Training Boosts Mobility in Knee Arthritis Patients
- GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS
- Gum Chewing May Speed Colon Surgery Recovery
- New Guidelines Issued for Management of IBS
- Bowel Prep Harder on Women Than Men
- GENERAL HEALTH
- What you need to know about swine flu.
- Brisk Walk Can Help Leave Common Cold Behind
- Meat Additives May Be Dangerous for Kidney Patients
- HEAD & NECK
- Zen May Thicken Brain, Thwart Pain
- Many Children Will Outgrow Headaches
- Ski Helmets Encouraged for All
- HEALTH & TECHNOLOGY
- 'Cell Phone Elbow' -- A New Ill for the Wired Age
- 'Comfort Dogs' Come to Emotional Rescue
- The Internet Is Becoming One-Stop Shopping for Health Help
- HEART & CARDIOVASCULAR
- More Steps a Day Lead to Better Health
- Soy Protein Doesn't Lower Cholesterol
- Years of Heavy Smoking Raises Heart Risks
- INFECTIOUS DISEASE
- Swine Flu Is Now a Pandemic Says W.H.O.
- Swine Flu Now Reported in All 50 States
- Surgical Masks Could Prevent Flu, Maybe
- KID'S HEALTH
- More Calcium And Dairy Products in Childhood Could Mean Longer Life
- Safety Should Be Priority for Those Involved in Kids' Sports
- Babies Cared For In Others Homes Might Become Heavy Toddlers
- MEN'S HEALTH
- Low Iron Levels Cut Cancer Risk in Men With PAD
- Whole Grains, Bran May Fight Hypertension in Men
- The Dark Side of Vegetarianism
- MENTAL HEALTH
- The Acne Drug Accutane More Than Doubles Depression Risk
- Consciousness Helps the Mind and Body Work Together
- Memory Loss Help from Brain Supplement Prevagen
- PREGNANCY
- Before Conceiving, Take Folic Acid for One Full Year
- For Baby and Mom Alike, Breast-Feeding May Be Best
- Prenatal Stress May Boost Baby's Asthma Risk
- SENIORS
- Exercise Benefits Even the Oldest Old
- Memory Loss Help from Brain Supplement Prevagen
- Healthy Diet Could Cut Alzheimer's Disease Risk
Laughter Can Boost Heart Health
By eHolistic.com Published: 06/01/2009
FRIDAY, May 29 (HealthDay News) -- New research lends weight to the old adage that laughter can be powerful medicine, particularly when it comes to your heart.
Two studies presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's annual meeting in Seattle found that laughter not only can reduce stress, which can damage the heart, it can lead to improved blood flow, which can help ward off high blood pressure.
The first study included a small group of healthy adults who were asked to watch either a comedy or documentary film. They were then checked for activity of the carotid arteries -- the main arteries in the neck that bring blood to the brain and face -- during the films.
People who watched the comedy displayed improved "arterial compliance" -- the amount of blood that moves through the arteries at a given time. Decreased arterial compliance is often linked with high blood pressure and heart disease, according to an American College of Sports Medicine news release.
"Arterial compliance was improved for a full 24 hours after subjects watched a funny movie," said lead researcher Jun Sugawara. "Laughing is likely not the complete solution to a healthy heart, but it appears to contribute to positive effects."
The second study focused on vascular function and the dilation of blood vessels. When a second group of adults watched either a comedy or a serious documentary, there was more dilation of blood vessels during the comedy. Constricted blood vessels can be a cause of high blood pressure, the news release said.
"Not only did comedies improve vascular dilation, but watching a documentary about a depressing subject was actually harmful to the blood vessels," said Takashi Tarumi, lead researcher on the second study. "These documentaries constricted blood vessels by about 18 percent."
In both studies, the beneficial effects of laughter lasted for 24 hours, the researchers said.
The college's annual meeting concludes May 30.
SOURCES: May 29, 2009, news release, American College of Sports Medicine Published on: May 29, 2009
