A HEALTHY HEART MAY BE A LAUGH AWAY

Here,s a fun way to help patients prevent heart disease: tell them a
joke. A life abundant with chuckles may ward off cardiovascular
disorders, according to a study presented at the American Heart
Association,s 73rd Scientific Sessions on Wednesday in New Orleans.

When confronted with a variety of humorous situations, a cohort of 150
people with heart disease were 40% less likely to laugh, compared to a
group of 150 of their peers without heart disease.

"The old saying that laughter is the best medicine,, definitely appears
to be true when it comes to protecting your heart, noted Michael
Miller, MD, FACC, director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at
the University of Maryland Medical Center. "We don't know yet why
laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is
associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier
lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory
reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary
arteries and ultimately to a heart attack,

"We could perhaps read something humorous or watch a funny video and try
to find ways to take ourselves less seriously, Dr. Miller explained.
"The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be exercise, eat
right and laugh a few times a day.

American Heart Association November 15, 2000.
http://www.americanheart.org/
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