Some studies have found that laughter helps to reduce anxiety, increase the quality of sleep, and in some studies laughter increased immunity levels. Laughter is very hard to monitor because there are many other factors which are actually causing the increased immunity. There is also the problem with the placebo affect in patients who are being treated by laughter, it is unclear if a patient is having reduced levels of stressed because they think they should be or because the laughter is chemically causing a change. I can't imagine that there are many complications which come with laughing so I think it is a great way to help alleviate stress and depression at a very low cost.
Do you think that is important for the doctor to make there patient laugh and feel less stressed?
Sources:
Bennett, P. N., Parsons, T., Ben‐Moshe, R., Weinberg, M., Neal, M., Gilbert, K., ... & Hutchinson, A. (2014). Laughter and Humor Therapy in Dialysis. In Seminars in dialysis.
Hi Kayla,
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! I think that an important aspect of being a physician is appropriate bed-side manner. I know that many of my family members have complained about a Dr. who was too gruff or was dismissive of their concerns. Laughter may not be a cure, but it definitely helps break the ice and creates a more comfortable environment for both the patient and the doctor. Our role in people's lives, as future health-care workers, will be to help them feel better, both physically and mentally. If patient's don't trust that we are both knowledgeable and caring, they may not communicate all the necessary information that we made need to treat them adequately. This article highlights the importance of maintaining a good bedside manner, and that at the end of the day, we will be treating people, just like ourselves.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/zinc-for-colds/faq-20057769