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 A medical study in 2005 showed there are significant health benefits from laughter. Unfortunately, the same study also concluded that watching intensely stressful movies can have a negative health effect.
A study presented to a meeting of the Florida-based American College of Cardiology in March 2005 showed that there are substantial medical benefits to a good laugh.
In there study, researchers had 20 volunteers watch two different movies. First they watched a 20-minute segment of Woody Harrelson's comedy "Kingpin" and then 48 hours later watched the opening scene to "Saving Private Ryan," a movie on World War II starring Tom Hanks.
Editor's note: I have never watched "Kingpin" and have no idea what is about. However, since it stars Woody Harrelson I would NOT recommend it, despite the obvious health benefits.
After the volunteers had watched the movie, the researchers - using ultrasound -- measured blood flow in each of the viewers.
What they found is, on average, blood flow increased 22% after watching Kingpin, compared to a 35% reduction after watching "Saving Private Ryan."
The beneficial increase from watching "Kingpin" was significant. It actually caused the endothelium -- the blood vessel's inner lining -- to expand boosting blood flow.
Dr. Michael Miller from the University of Maryland Medical Center and a lead researcher in the study said, "The magnitude of the change we saw is similar to the benefit we might see with aerobic activity, but without the aches, pains and muscle tensions associated with exercise."
The researchers could not determine why laughter increased blood flow but speculated that laughter may release endorphins into the blood. The increase could also be attributed to movement of the diaphragm muscles triggered by laughing.
What was of equal concern was the negative impact the movie "Saving Private Ryan" had on viewers. They noted emotional responses can have both a positive and negative impact on a person's heart.
They attributed the negative reduction in blood flow to a decrease in nitric oxides in the blood. Nitric Oxides expand the size of the blood vessels. They speculated that stress may either hinder the production of nitric oxides or cause this chemical to break down resulting in a narrowing of the blood vessels.
The study showed that there was a significant health benefit to laughter and a positive outlook on life. The researchers recommended a 30 minute aerobic workout three times a week and daily laughter of at least 15 minutes.
Source: A laugh a day keeps the doctor away: (Globe and Mail, March 9, 2005)
Editor's note: Here we go again; science is finally catching up with what the Bible says. In Proverbs 17:22 we read, "A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones."
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Apologetics 
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