According to researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, watching a movie that makes you laugh is good for your heart because of a positive effect on vascular function. On the contrary, watching a war movie causes significant mental stress and can potentially damage the heart.
For the study, volunteers were shown clips from "There's Something About Mary" starring Cameron Diaz and then on the following day they watched the opening of "Saving Private Ryan."
Dr Michael Miller, the lead investigator, said that when participants watched the war film the lining of their blood vessels developed a condition called vasoconstriction that reduces blood flow.This finding confirms previous studies that showed similar results.
However, after watching the comedy the blood vessel linings of the volunteers expanded. The message? Laughter really is the best medicine.
