Laughing is healthy

2000/12/05 Mendiburu, Joana - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Osasuna

Humor and laughter are strange things. There are jokes or events that produce laughter in some people and in others not. Although more research is still needed to understand these humor-related phenomena, there is no lack of interest among researchers. In November, for example, the results of two studies have been published that say laughter is healthy.

Traces of humor in the head

In order to work on new ways to cure depressions, Rochester University has researched where humor is in the brain. Thirteen people were told by a group of jokes, which they thought were good, and when they reacted, they measured their brain activity. Thus, thanks to brain images taken through functional MRI, they have seen where humor is. Specifically, in the right frontal lobe of the brain, that is, on the right eye is humor.

The results of this research can be valuable in solving depression. In the words of Dr. Dean Shibata, who is responsible for research, they know that some parts of the brain directly related to humor "work poorly in depressive people." From now on, in order to cure despises, it is necessary to analyze why these bad performances occur and their consequences.

Heart Response

Another study published in November has shown that irritation reduces cardiovascular disease. In different situations, the probability of irritation in people with cardiovascular disease is 40% lower than that of people without cardiovascular disease.

Michael Miller, director of the Maryland Medical Center's cardiovascular disease prevention center, says that for the moment, they don't know "why laughing reduces the risk of heart disease, but mental stress is related to poor endothelium. Endothelium is an internal membrane of the heart and blood vessels."

According to Miller, "People with cardiovascular disease are recommended to exercise, not smoke and take care of food. From now on, these recommendations should be added a few minutes of daily laughter. For example, reading some humor, watching a video, or attending narrator joke shows."

We know, therefore, what we have to do if we want to live healthy: giving humor both space and seriousness.