TRUMP’S REAL MISSION?
Washington--While the president of the United States garners criticism for his unorthodox views and strategies in battling the corona virus pandemic, some think that the self-proclaimed billionaire (and knower of all things South Korean) isn't given enough credit. Our special investigation can now reveal that Trump's mission at least as far back as 2016 was to keep Americans laughing. Laughter, the old adage goes, is the best medicine, but is it really? Yes, it turns out that it is. The Mayo Clinic reports that laughter confers both short and long terms benefits, including physiological changes that enhance the immune systems and provide relief from the stresses amplified in this time of Corona.
Drawing by Shelina Knight, 2020.
How does laughter boost your immune response? Here’s information our investigation gleaned from the Mayo Clinic.
The short term effects of laughter include:
Drink: cream soda.
Eat: frozen cherry lollies.
Music: Smile by Nat King Cole with images of the songwriter Charlie Chaplin.
1) stimulating our heart and lungs by enhancing oxygen intake.
2) exercising our muscles and increasing of endorphins released in our brains.
3) reduction of stress by activation and then relief of our stress response, resulting in an overall feeling of relaxation.
4) soothing of tension by increasing circulation and relaxing muscles.
The Mayo Clinic lists some long-term effects of laughing including:
1) improvements to the immune system. Positive thoughts release neuropeptides that help fight stress and serious illness.
2) pain relief by stimulating the body to release natural painkillers.
3) improved mood, by lessening the effects of depression and anxiety.
In a group of studies (Berk 2001) investigating humour and immune response, 52 men viewed a humorous video for on hour, with blood samples taken ten minutes before, 30 minutes into the video, 30 minutes after and finally 12 hours after the video. Viewing the humorous video resulted in increases in immunoglobulins (igG, igA and igM) as well as in NK (Natural Killer) cell activity, that lasted at least 12 hours In another study, this one involving healthy adult females, the group was randomly divided and a humorous video was shown to one group and a “neutral” video was shown to the control group. Again the findings showed that humour ruled the day, with improved immune function in the humorous video viewers compared with the subject’s own pre-intervention rates, and also better rates than those of the control group. Laughing out loud, by the way, has been found to be better than just smiling, or laughing inside.
So, let’s give credit where credit is due. Donald Trump has done more than his fair share of boosting the immune systems of viewers of his shannigans, though it may well be that he has improved the immune response of people living beyond the confines of American borders.
Some Sources
Bennet, Mary Payne and Cecile Lengacher 2009: “Humor and Laughter May Influence Health IV. Humor and Immune Function”. Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine. pp. 159–64. Originally published online in 2007. doi: 10.1093/ecam/nem149
Berk L, Felten D, Tan S, Bittman B, Westengard J. 2001: “Modulation of neuroimmune parameters during the eustress of humor-associated mirthful laughter”. Altern Ther HealthMed. 2001;7:62–72. 74–76. Link.
N. a. N. d. “Stress relief from laughter? It's no joke.” Mayo Clinic. Link.