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LAUGHTER: It’s as powerful as a statin drug for heart health

A good laugh may be as good for your heart as taking a statin heart drug.

A study of 20 healthy volunteers found that laughter increased the flow of blood to the heart by 22 per cent, which was similar to the results of starting a statin drug or doing strenuous exercise.
Their brachial artery flow mediated vasodilatation (FMD) was measured before and after watching the comedy film There’s Something About Mary.
Their FMD was also measured after they watched the tense and stressful Saving Private Ryan war movie. After watching this film, their FMD reduced by 35 per cent.

 

Sources

  • Heart, 2006; 92: 261-2.