You’re unlikely to see a doctor prescribe a few Ben Stiller movies in lieu of a course of antibiotics. But there is some truth to the old adage “Laughter is the best medicine.”
Whether you prefer to chuckle, chortle, cackle or crack up, the end result is the same. Laughter relieves stress. It also boosts the immune system and reduces blood pressure. It may even help stave off heart disease and prevent a heart attack.
No joke.
In one intriguing study, University of Maryland Medical Center researchers determined that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh compared with people without heart disease. Those with heart problems often failed to recognize humor and were less likely to use it themselves.