Laughter Therapy Shows Promise in Reducing COPD Symptoms in Clinical Trial
A recent clinical trial conducted in Türkiye has demonstrated that laughter therapy can effectively reduce breathing difficulties in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study, presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain, involved 63 COPD patients at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital. Researchers compared a laughter-based exercise regimen to conventional breathing exercises and a control group with no exercises. The laughter therapy, performed at home three times a week after initial coaching, included playful activities such as rhythmic clapping with vocal sounds, mimicking animal noises, and meditation with spontaneous laughter. After eight weeks, the results indicated that laughter therapy was as effective as traditional breathing exercises in alleviating breathlessness and improving the overall health status of patients, with benefits sustained for up to 12 weeks. This research builds upon earlier studies that suggested laughter thera... 
