Researchers in Turkey have demonstrated that a simple, laughter‑based breathing program can help people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) breathe more easily. The study, conducted at a hospital in Ankara, compared laughter therapy with the established pursed‑lip breathing technique and a control group that performed no breathing exercises.
Study design and participants
The trial enrolled 63 COPD patients, all receiving standard medical care. One‑third of the participants were assigned to the laughter‑therapy group, another third to pursed‑lip breathing exercises, and the remaining third served as a control group. Both active groups received face‑to‑face instruction and were asked to practice their exercises for 30 minutes, three times per week, over an eight‑week period. Participants were supported through video calls and text messages to encourage adherence.
What the laughter program involved
Laughter therapy consisted of a series of guided activities, including rhythmic clapping with vocal sounds, playful imitation exercises such as mimicking a motorcycle start or a lion’s roar, a laughter meditation encouraging spontaneous, unforced laughter, and a relaxation segment combining calm breathing with smiling. The goal was to evoke genuine laughter that engages the respiratory muscles.
Results
At the end of the eight‑week program, both the laughter‑therapy group and the pursed‑lip breathing group reported significantly less breathlessness compared with the control group. Participants in the two active groups also showed improvements in overall health measures, although the amount of daily care required did not differ among the groups.
Lead researcher Goncagul Aldan, a lecturer and nurse at Hacettepe University’s Faculty of Nursing, noted that the benefits persisted for at least a month after the program concluded. “Both interventions can markedly reduce the severity of breathlessness in COPD patients,” Aldan said, adding that laughter may also trigger the release of endorphins, providing both physical and emotional relief.
Expert commentary
Dr. Marc Miravitlles, vice‑president of the European Respiratory Society, praised the study as “well‑run” and highlighted the potential for laughter therapy to be a simple, low‑cost option that can be used worldwide. He emphasized the importance of expanding research to confirm these findings on a larger scale.
Implications for COPD care
COPD remains a leading cause of death globally, affecting roughly one in ten adults over age 40 and offering no cure. Standard management includes inhalers, exercise, and vaccinations. The addition of low‑cost, home‑based techniques like laughter therapy could provide patients with an accessible way to improve breathing and quality of life without requiring specialized equipment or professional supervision.
The research team plans to conduct larger trials to further explore the mechanisms behind laughter’s impact on respiratory function and to determine how best to integrate these exercises into routine COPD care.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
