Chronic respiratory disease sufferers can get the last laugh

It’s not only simple and effective but it’s a low-cost technique that works well with other forms of therapy

Published Sep 27, 2026  •  Last updated 30 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

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Laugh more, breathe a little easier.

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Anyone suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) knows it’s no picnic, from the shortness of breath, coughing and mucus production.

There is no cure, but for the 700,000-plus Canadians living with the disease — not to mention the thousands who have it but have yet to be diagnosed — it can be managed with stretching, breathing exercises and daily walks.

But a clinical trial in Turkey for patients with COPD found a new, more fun way to help reduce breathing difficulties and is just as effective as other exercises: laughter therapy.

Sixty-three patients with COPD took part in the trial and were divided equally into one group taught to use forced laughter as an alternative, another batch that used traditional breathing exercises, and a control group that did no breathing exercises.

“People with COPD often feel breathless, even during simple daily activities. This reduces their quality of life and makes them increasingly dependent on others for care,” said Dr. Goncagul Aldan, a lecturer and nurse who presented the research at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Spain.

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“Managing COPD requires more than medication alone,” she continued. “Patients need a holistic, approach to help them cope with their symptoms, the physical burden of the disease, and its emotional and psychological impact.”

Laugh it off

Laughter truly is the best medicine as Aldan explained that it’s not only simple and effective but it’s a low-cost technique that works well with other forms of therapy.

“Laughter therapy had already shown promising results in a number of other chronic conditions,” she noted. “Its accessible, enjoyable nature suggests it could equally benefit COPD patients, not only in coping with the daily stress of living with a chronic illness, but also in directly supporting their respiratory health.”

COPD sufferers are taught to breathe in through the nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips, an established technique which helps to release the stale air that can become trapped in diseased lungs.

Laughter therapy, on the other hand, can be likened to a baby or toddler play group, with exercises that include rhythmic clapping with vocal sounds; playful laughter exercises, such as imitating a motorcycle starting or a lion’s roar; laughter meditation with spontaneous unforced laughter; and calm breathing and smiling as a means of relaxation.

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Study participants did their respective exercises for 30 minutes, three times a week for eight weeks.

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The findings

Researchers found that both exercises helped patients breathe easier compared with the group that did no breathing exercises and had better overall health, but there was no difference in how much care they needed.

The airways of COPD sufferers collapse during exhalation, trapping stale air inside the lungs, Aldan explained.

Pursed-lip breathing creates a gentle back pressure that allows this trapped air to escape, slows the breathing rate, and helps patients feel more in control of their breathing, according to Aldan, while laughter can exercise the breathing muscles, promote deeper exhalation, and trigger the release of endorphins, offering both physical and emotional relief.

The researchers now hope to further study laughter therapy on a larger scale with more patients in clinical settings around the world.

“Laughter therapy aims to evoke the effects of genuine laughter in the body,” she detailed, but acknowledged that “the mechanisms behind laughter therapy in COPD remain poorly understood, and more comprehensive research is needed.”

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