Laughter the best remedy for leg ulcers--study

Laughter is a powerful weapon that not only dissipates stress, anger, sadness and conflict but improves your health too, claims a new study.

UK researchers found evidence to support laughter as a therapeutic option to the more expensive ultra sound therapy in treating patients with leg ulcers.

Lead author of the study, Professor Andrea Nelson from the University of Leeds' School of Healthcare stated, "Forget technology. The best prescription for patients with venous leg ulcers is good quality nursing care and the occasional belly laugh!"

Details of the five year study
The focus of the study was to find a solution that could speed the healing process of persistent leg ulcers.

The researchers followed patients from the UK and parts of Ireland who were suffering from “hard to heal” ulcers that had not healed for over six months or more.

Previous studies have indicated that ultra sound could be the answer to the problem.

Findings of the study
A follow-up for five years revealed that addition of ultrasound to standard nursing like dressings and compression therapy made no significant difference in either the recovery process or the odds of the lesions reappearing.

On the contrary it increased the treatment cost per patient by almost £200.

However, they found that a good sense of humor and traditional nursing were an effective remedy for the condition.

Experts theorize that a hearty laugh stimulates the diaphragm which increases blood circulation around the body thereby helping flush the organs of toxins.

Professor Andrea Nelson stated,” The key to care with this group of patients is to stimulate blood flow back up the legs to the heart.

"The best way to do that is with compression bandages and support stockings not “magic wands” – coupled with advice on diet and exercise.

“Believe it or not, having a really hearty chuckle can help too. This is because laughing gets the diaphragm moving and this plays a vital part in moving blood around the body.”

Need for new ways to treat leg ulcers
Venous leg ulcers afflict thousands of people with varicose veins or mobility problems and is more common in obese.

The condition can be extremely painful and can have an adverse impact on health and quality of life.

Though, most of the lesions heal with good nursing care, the older and larger ulcers are difficult to get rid of and can take over a year to clear up.

Nelson stated, "Rising levels of obesity mean that the number of people who suffer from legs ulcers is likely to grow.

"We do need to find ways to help those patients whose ulcers won't go away, but our study shows that ultrasound is not the way to do that. We need to focus on what really matters, which is good quality nursing care.

“There really is no need for the NHS to provide district nurses with ultrasound machines. This would not be money well spent."

The new study was published in the British Medical Journal.