Laughter For Pulmonary Hypertension

Serena Lawrence: After being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2013, I began to look high and low for things to incorporate into my lifestyle that could help me with overall wellness.

I came across laughter therapy which uses humor as a technique to help reduce anxiety, stress, manage pain and even boost the immune system. Initially, it was very hard for me to find humor in things and laugh. In fact, I don’t think I laughed for nearly a year after my diagnosis. However, after embracing laughter therapy and practicing Laughter Yoga, I now laugh frequently and loudly! It has been a life changer and has helped me to cope with my problem in a better and positive manner.

Laughter Yoga triggers the release of endorphins, which provide a sense of overall well-being. Besides reducing pain, enhancing relaxation and providing good sleep; it also changes the mood state, thereby enabling one to improve relationships and attitude. I try to make a conscious choice to laugh daily. It may sound silly, but it is the best thing to do and the best medicine ever for health and happiness!

Today, more and more medical journals are acknowledging the positive effects laughter can have on both patients, and even on people who are not sick. So much so, that many hospitals and cancer centers offer integrative laughter therapy, in order to provide patients a feeling of well being.

Source: http://pulmonaryhypertensionnews.com/blog/2016/11/03/is-laughter-the-best-medicine