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Incorporating laughter therapy into treatment plans could help ease respiratory difficulties in patients suffering from a widespread lung condition, COPD. New research indicates that this 'simple, low-cost' intervention performs on par with conventional breathing drills and may complement existing care for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the UK alone, an estimated 1.7 million people suffer from COPD, including roughly 600,000 who remain undiagnosed.
A clinical trial evaluated 63 patients diagnosed with COPD at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital in Turkey. Researchers assigned a third of the group to laughter therapy sessions, while the remaining participants were guided through pursed-lip breathing routines or received no specialized exercises. After training, patients completed 30-minute sessions three times weekly over an eight-week period. Respiratory function improvements were measured before, during, and after the intervention. Both laughter therapy and pursed-lip breathing achieved measurable improvements compared to the control group receiving no intervention.
Dr Goncagul Aldan, a lecturer and nurse at Hacettepe University Faculty of Nursing, noted that COPD patients often experience breathlessness, reducing their quality of life and increasing dependency on others. She emphasized the need for a holistic approach to managing COPD, addressing both physical symptoms and emotional impacts. Laughter therapy, with its accessible and enjoyable nature, could benefit COPD patients by improving respiratory health and coping with daily stress.
Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, persistent chesty cough with phlegm, frequent chest infections, and persistent wheezing. The positive impacts of both interventions persisted a month after the program concluded, suggesting that simple, low-cost techniques could reduce breathlessness and improve daily wellbeing. Laughter therapy may help by exercising breathing muscles, promoting deeper exhalation, and releasing endorphins, offering both physical and emotional relief.
Pursed-lip breathing creates back pressure to help expel trapped air in the lungs, slowing breathing rates and improving control. The trial’s findings will be presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona. Emma Rubach, head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK, highlighted the potential of laughter therapy as an effective self-management technique for COPD, noting that further studies are needed to confirm its benefits.
Source: The Independent
