Reading Material No. 2 - Laughter is the Best Medicine

When was the last time you saw a comedy flick? Sitting through a funny movie seems to be as good for your heart as running through the park, a small study suggests. In a research with healthy young adults, it was found that the participants’ blood flow improved when they watched a movie that made them laugh. In fact, the circulation boost was similar to what has been seen with aerobic exercise, according to findings.

It’s possible that laughing counters the effects that stress hormones can have on blood vessel function. It may also spur the body’s production of a chemical that helps dilate blood vessels. On average, the researchers found, participants’ blood vessel dilation was more than 50 percent better after the comedy than after the depressing film. A number of studies have linked negative emotions, such as major depression and chronic hostility, to poorer heart health. If you want to have a healthy heart, watch funny movies and laugh a lot!

Vocabulary:
1. (movie) flick: n. Slang.  A movie
2. counter: v.   To move or act in opposition to; oppose
3. dilate (dilation):  v.  To become wider or larger; expand (enlargement; expansion)
4. chronic: adj.   Of long duration; continuing; Lasting for a long period of time
5. hostility: n.   A feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action

Questions for talk

1. What caused the blood flow improvement of the healthy young adults who took part in the research?

2. What does laughing fight off?

3. Are you a happy person? Why do you think so?

4. Are you a happy person? Why do you think so?

5. What are the things that make you laugh? Why?

6. Do you agree that staying happy can do a lot of good effects to our health?

7. When was the happiest moment in your life? Why? What happened?

8. Do you often watch movies? What kind of movies do you like to watch? Why?

9. What is your favorite movie? Why?

10. Is there any movie that has affected your life so much? If so, what movie is it? How has it affected you?

11. What makes you sad?

12. What do you think about those people who always feel sad?

13. Have you ever felt depressed?