Laughter Reduces Stress
Movies Lower Blood Pressure

Laughter and the movies. Michael Miller M.D. a cardiologist from the University of Maryland announced at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Orlando that a certain type of movie can lower blood pressure. I am sure you can guess what type of movies reduce stress and therefore blood pressure.

Dr Michael Miller theorized that laughter might promote healthier circulation. By reducing stress, it might relax the vascular constriction produced by mental stress.

Dr Miller took 20 people and had them watch a rather serious movie with many very stressful scenes. He chose the opening graphic war scene from "Saving Private Ryan. Then he measured their blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and how their blood vessels responded to the stress.

Then he had them watch a comedy. He chose for this one the movie “Kingpin” starring the Farrelly brothers Then he measured the same physiological responses for blood pressure etc that he used from the first movie and then compared the two. He took a total of 160 blood vessel measurements before and after the sessions.

Dr. Miller found that 9 of the 20 participants had reliable vessel relaxation following the comedy. And all 9 had increased blood flow. The reactions were probably prompted by the release of nitric oxide, which is the target of nitrate drugs and erectile dysfunction drugs. Nitric oxide relaxes vessels much like endorphins do when you exercise.

Miller concluded: "A good belly laugh a day would be a big step toward good heart health." And who knows, it might even be a lot less expensive and safer way to get your nitric oxide "arousal" than drugs.

Further if you combine laughter, joy and positive thinking with a good diet full of fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains we might be able to cure all disease. If you cannot get your 9 to 12 servings of fruits and veggies remember good whole food supplements will do almost as good and keep your heart and circulatory system running at peak efficiency.

In accordance with the FDA these products are not intended to treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any diseases. Information on this site is given for educational purposes only and is not to replace the advice of your health care professional.

Laughter To Heart Disease