Abstract
Humour is used commonly to relax subjects when their blood pressure is being measured. However the short-term effect of laughter on blood pressure is not described. Sixteen normotensive volunteers had blood pressure measured using a validated automated oscillometric sphygmomanometric device (Omron 705 CP) as control and during three episodes of laughter while viewing a humorous sit-com video. Blood pressure was stable in the control period. There was a significant rise (P<0.01) in systolic blood pressure from 115 mmHg (108-121, mean 95% confidence interval) to 127 mmHg (120-135) during laughing. The increase in diastolic pressure 71 (67-74) to 73 (69-77) mmHg was not significant. Laughing has an acute effect on systolic blood pressure. Patients should not be encouraged to laugh when their blood pressure is being measured.
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