I know this sounds cliche, but laughter may actually be good medicine. According to a recent study, laughter's chemical effect on the brain and immune system may be similar to that of exercise.
This study didn't look specifically at fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome , and of course we have our own special issues when it comes to exertion. However, the chemical effect of exercise is what experts agree we fibromites need. Researchers are split as to whether those with chronic fatigue syndrome should be exercising at all.
This new research was actually a series of 5 separate studies that looked at the neuroendocrine and neuroimmune impact of what they called "mirthful laughter." They found that, after viewing a funny video for an hour, subjects had increased immune-system activity in the form of:
- Natural killer cell activity
- Immunoglobulins G, A & M
- Markers of T cell activation
- The cytokine interferon-gamma
- Total leukocytes
- Granulocytes
Many of the effects lasted for at least 12 hours.
Researchers also found changes in blood pressure and appetite hormones that were similar to the effects of repeated exercise.
This study reinforced my personal belief that laughter is good for us. We already knew that laughter raises the level of endorphins in the brain -- and endorphins kill pain and improve the mood. With this additional information, I'm wondering if my own intentional use of laughter has helped me make such big improvements in spite of inconsistent exercise. Could laughter "stand in" for exercise on days when we just can't do it?
Then again, I remember a severely disabled woman in my forum who says that a burst of laughter can wipe her out and cause post-exertional malaise. That makes more sense now. So perhaps those who are bedridden or nearly bedridden need to approach even laughter with caution -- say, one funny Internet video a day. It would be great if someone actually researched the effect of laughter on these conditions specifically -- I think a lot more people would accept "laughter therapy" than graded exercise theory, or the advice to just get out and be more active.
I get a lot of laughter from my husband, kids, friends and pets, but I also watch a lot of comedic shows and movies. On days when I can't get off the couch, I seek out things that will make me laugh.
Do you have humor in your life? Do you think it's benefited your health? Do you think you need to laugh more? Leave your comments below!
Learn more or join the conversation!
NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Photo © B2M Productions/Getty Images
I don’t think it is an either/or proposition when it comes to laughter and exercise. Both have value in the management of Fibromyalgia spectrum disorders, including CFS.
I havent been able to laugh properly, since i came down with Cfs which has been a curse for me for eight years approx. Any laughing makes me go all weak through my body and feel like im about to pass out, during laughing i end up on the floor too weak to stand or sit its not nice feeling this way i have to stifle my laughs. Im left wiped and weak and it can take hours for me to recover to the level i was before. My wife and i have a good sense of humor i miss laughing with her.
The advice about laughter possibly having some physiology similar to physical excercise is worthwhile trying. The emotional state of mirth also activates the para-sympathetic nervous sytem, which has very benefical effects, perhaps as valuable as the physcal act of laughing. It is all about the role of attitudes & emotions in health and healing. When humor & jokes are not accessible there are alternatives. Visit my website to learn more. Find information about Good-Hearted Living.
I am one who tries hard to stay positive, I am always smiling and laughing and love life. But I have to say that when I am in pain from the fibro and/or exhausted from the chronic fatigue there are plenty of times I am not in the mood to be positive, smile or laugh. These times are few and far between as I stated, I work hard at staying in the positive, etc. When the pain and/or fatigue are so bad that I go in the other direction I work on staying away from others and out of their way. It works out best for me and them this way. Plus I get tired of those well meaning people who are on me when I am not smiling or happy. When the reality is this is the time I most want to crawl in a hole and scream and I look at them like Hello…I allowed to NOT smile or be happy every single moment of my life.
But that is just it…I pretty much am and it truly upsets or bothers others when I am not. Hence the reason why it is best for me to just stay at home alone. Unfortunatley with my illnesses being as unpredictable as they are I cannot always be at home when I am not feeling well. But I do have to say for me when I am in a more positive state of mind, when I am smiling and even “acting” as if I am happy then I do better than when I focus on how truly bad the pain or exhaustion really is. For me it is all about where I choose to be. I am a human being and not a human doing so I am far from perfect so I can’t say this is the way it is all the time for me, but when I tell you that all others have to do is look at me and they can tell what kind of day I am having then that says it all. And I believe if we project how badly we feel all the time then we will feel so. It is amazing how just one little smile can turn your pain and exhaustion into you wanting to put the next foot forward or not. I feel it is in all what we choose and if we choose to be negative, complaining and in pain and tired then our lives will be so. Don’t get me wrong, I am not perky pollyanna or a jody toady kind of girl all the time but I love life and do not want my illnesses to run me. I want to keep enjoying my life as much as I can in spite of all my horrible pain and exhaustion. I guess the bottom line for me is that my illnesses have taken enough away from me and I refuse to allow them to take the thing I love most about myself away and that is my ability to smile through tough times, painful ones, to make others smile and it warms my heart and soul like you cannot imagine. And that is living in my own happiness above the pain and exhaustion in spite of these hateful and harmful illnesses I hate so much.
Take everyone and please smile and warm your insides up a little. It does make you feel better.
Since when was laughter NOT known as the BEST MEDICINE – whether one has or has not either FM or CFS or any disease/illness for that matter. There are CLASSES around the world just teach people how to LAUGH again – what an indictnment upon our world! I agree with DrCPAIN – no question – exercise of the body, exercise of the facial muascles, exercise in laughter of both and of the lungs, heart, eyes, brain chemicals cannot be seperated. If one has no family or dogs to laugh with, how about THE LAST COMIC STANDING/WHOSE LINE IS IT, ANYWAY/WAYNE BRADY’S COMEDIC SHOWS NOW IN SOUTH AFRICA. Adrienne – I often wonder if you become so fatigued because of this work you have chosen to do – typing is tiring unless someone is doing it for you, eye myo fascia are under stress perpetually when using a computer…..it is advised in research of FM and CFS nd all other functional medical illnesses to SET PERAMETERS and place oneself in the BEST number 1 position to be good then all the time. I work with the best patients and the worst – those who follow the FM ‘rules’ and remain good and gentle and caring to themselves, keep remaining the winners. Those who go straight ahead, working with tools of assistance, but still overdoing, never go into remission ie without fatigue/pain et al. Each one of us is individual, and should learn from lessons , our limitations and stick to what does not throw one ‘over the precipice’ continuously, esp when one is fortunate enough to work for oneself. Not withstanding, I like your emails – but you will notice I skip many replies because my work load is within my control and answering and commenting when I have a practice, write, educate, AND STOP WHEN I KNOW MY BOUNDARIES MAY BE IN JEOPARDY, and have had to learn that many times initally, but rarely allow, unless beyond my control, any circumstance that will ‘take me down and back to any couch /even validating that I am FM. I was, will remain in remission frever because I choose to – wish the same for all who are knowledgable already, and to those who are not, look out for holistic, integrative helpers, and do not be anyone’s VICTIM – join, esp for INTERNALTIONAL FIBROMYALGAI AWARENESS DAY 12 MAY, THE GROUND SWELL OF EX’SUFFERERS, NOW KNOWN AS ‘SURVIVORS’. Much luck and regards from SA. Sharon Levin http://www.fibromyalgiasa.co.za
From Your Guide: Thanks for your concern, but my symptoms have improved steadily during the time I’ve done this work, in large part because of what I’ve learned doing it, and also I believe because of the sense of community it gives me and the rewards of getting to help people. I do know my limits and stick to them (most of the time.) Typing is actually one of the things I’ve always been able to tolerate, even when I was quite ill. It helps that I’m very aware of ergonomics, having dealt with severe carpal tunnel syndrome in my 20s, because you’re right that typing can be very hard on the body. ~Adrienne