Benefits of Laughter for Lung Patients
A clinical trial at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital in Turkey tested the effect of structured laughter exercises on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, showing a reduction in shortness of breath and improvement that lasted a month after the program.
A clinical trial at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital in Turkey tested the effect of structured laughter exercises on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study included 63 patients randomly assigned to three groups: the first underwent pursed-lip breathing exercises, the second a laughter therapy program, and the third a comparison group with no additional exercises. The laughter program included structured exercises such as rhythmic clapping, mimicking starting a motorcycle, and lion roaring, followed by relaxation exercises. Participants practiced the exercises for 30 minutes three times a week for eight weeks. Results showed a reduction in the severity of shortness of breath in the two intervention groups compared to the third group, and the improvement persisted one month after the program ended. Researcher Günçagül Aldan believes that laughter may activate respiratory muscles and stimulate exhalation, in addition to its psychological effects in reducing stress. The study does not mean that laughter is a substitute for medication, and the exact mechanisms require further research.