Why laughter might be the best medicine for this condition
- New research suggests incorporating laughter therapy into treatment plans can help ease breathing difficulties for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- A clinical trial of 63 patients in Turkey found that 30-minute laughter therapy sessions three times a week performed on par with traditional pursed-lip breathing drills.
- Both laughter therapy and breathing exercises led to measurable improvements in respiratory function that persisted a month after the eight-week programme ended.
- Lead researcher Dr Goncagul Aldan explained that laughter exercises breathing muscles, promotes deeper exhalation, and triggers endorphin release for physical and emotional relief.
- Asthma + Lung UK welcomed the study presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress as an accessible self-management tool for the 1.7 million UK residents with COPD.
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