Hacettepe University

Laughter therapy eases breathlessness in COPD patients as effectively as pursed-lip breathing

- A randomized trial of 63 COPD patients found laughter therapy reduced breathing difficulties as effectively as established pursed-lip breathing exercises, with benefits sustained a month after the program ended. - Both interventions improved overall health compared with a control group receiving no breathing exercises, though neither changed the level of daily care patients required. - Researchers describe laughter therapy as a simple, low-cost technique patients can practice at home without equipment or specialist support, complementing medication and pulmonary rehabilitation. - The findings, presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona, warrant larger-scale and international studies to clarify the mechanisms behind laughter therapy in COPD.