Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Incorporating laughter therapy into treatment plans could help ease respiratory difficulties in patients suffering from a widespread lung condition, new research indicates. Scientists behind the study suggest that the “simple, low-cost” intervention performs on par with conventional breathing drills and may work to “complement existing care” for individuals living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the UK alone, an estimated 1.7 million people suffer from COPD, including roughly 600,000 who remain undiagnosed. The clinical trial evaluated 63 patients diagnosed with COPD who were receiving care at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital in Turkey. Researchers assigned a third of the group to laughter therapy sessions, while the remaining participants were guided through pursed-lip breathing routines or received no specialised exercises. Rather than relying on an inhaler, people could turn to laughter therapy (PA) After being shown how to perform the techniques, patients …