Contrary to the general thought, laughter might not be the best for your health. Infact research has revealed that in some cases laughter may be harmful to some patients. According to a study by researchers from Oxford and Birmingham, in UK, laughter is a matter to be taken seriously. Their study is based on data that has been published in the period between 1946 to 2013.

Based on their study, the researchers identified the benefits that accrue from laughter as well as the harmful effects of laughter. They even identified the conditions that cause pathological laughter. The study suggests that laughter can increase the patient's ability to bear pain although it did not have any effect on the distress level of children who had gone through minor surgery. Laughter may relieve tension by reducing stiffness in the arterial wall, according to the researchers.

Patients suffering from COPD condition reported improved lung function. A genuine laughter for an entire day can burn upto 2000 calories and in diabetics it had a positive resuly by lowering the blood sugar level. Besides, laughter had a positive impact on fertility. The research paper is published in The British Medical Journal.

(Picture Source: psychologies.co.uk)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)