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A Good Laugh Can Trigger Asthma Attack

May 25, 2005
Laughter, they say, is the best medicine. But a new study suggests there's an exception to that rule when it comes to asthma sufferers.

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The study of 235 patients at the New York University Medical Center found that laughing could set off an asthma attack in 52 percent of them. Doctors say it doesn't appear that the laughter-induced attacks are all that serious - none of them recorded in the study required hospital treatment.

It's not clear why there seems to be a laughter-asthma connection. Some researchers suggest it's an early warning sign that the condition isn't properly under control. Since it was hearty, boisterous laughter that seemed to set off the attack, the researchers also speculate that hyperventilation may be a contributing factor.

"Patients did report that during times when their asthma is well-controlled, they can laugh for longer without getting asthma symptoms," said Dr. Stuart Garay, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Medical Center.

Symptoms from the attacks include coughing, followed by tightness in the chest. The study show patients were as likely to suffer the attacks as they were from other well known triggers - things like fumes, dust mites and pollen.

Doctors say under normal conditions, laughter is a great stress reliever, contributing to both mental and physical health. They say asthma patients who are properly managing their condition should be less likely to suffer an attack from laughter.

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