It's been said many a time that laughter is the best medicine, and let's hope there's some truth to it, otherwise I'm out of a job. Honestly, a lot of studies claim it's true, although some have more zeal than science. It's generally agreed, however, that laughing is a benefit with no side effects, something that can't be said for most medicines.
At least if there were a TV commercial for Laughitol, it wouldn't be followed by some voiceover actor yammering at an auctioneer's pace that "Laughitol may cause internal bleeding. Some users of Laughitol may experience grapefruit-sized elbow polyps. Other side effects may include: dry mouth, dry eyes, dry urination, night sweats, excess earwax build-up, thick hair growth on the forehead, navel reversal, the uncontrollable ability to emit gamma radiation from your eyes, spontaneous human combustion and mange. In some rare cases, Laughitol users have experienced death and eventual zombification. Do not use Laughitol if you are operating heavy machinery or a Bedazzler."
A 2005 study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that "Laughter appears to cause the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, to dilate or expand in order to increase blood flow." Conversely, other studies have shown that there's a link between stress and the narrowing of blood vessels.
These studies stop short of saying you should replace your aerobic routine with episodes of "Scrubs" and "The Simpsons," but they make a pretty compelling argument that it's well worth it to find the humor of a situation, within reason, of course. After all, nobody wants Patch Adams coming up to him or her in a hospital bed in a Bozo costume, honking his big red nose and singing a peppy, little ditty titled, "You've Got Terminal Cancer, Sparky."
Other studies claim laughter burns calories at a significant rate, increases the effectiveness of your immune system, reduces stress, improves alertness and memory, strengthens internal muscles, helps clear mucus from your respiratory system, lifts depression, lowers your blood sugar levels and can relieve pain.
Naysayers to these studies point out that they're not terribly scientific, that they use too small a sample and that the researchers went into the study with their conclusions already made. It must be pointed out, however, that nobody likes these naysayers and, besides, they probably don't get jokes. They spend a lot of time in hotel bars at medical conventions saying, "Wait, so the chicken was wearing the suspenders? Why would he do that? That makes no sense at all."
The overwhelming empirical evidence says that laughter is indeed very good medicine. I'm pretty confident from my layman's perspective that when further studies are done, most of the benefits will be proved, and in the meantime, it couldn't hurt.
Still, while laughter may be a wonder drug, it's no replacement for what your doctor prescribes. If you've got anthrax, take the Cipro, then feel free to augment it with a knock-knock joke.
F. Andrew Taylor is a Las Vegas freelance writer. His column appears twice monthly. Contact him at fandrewt@cox.net.
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