Hearty laugh the best cure for leg ulcers--study

A new study published in the 'British Medical Journal,' states that good nursing and occasional belly laughs is the best treatment for leg ulcers.

According to researchers at the University of Leeds, laughter stimulates blood flow back from the legs to the heart. This in turn speeds recovery.

"Believe it or not, having a really hearty laugh can help too. This is because laughing gets the diaphragm moving and this plays a vital part in moving blood around the body,” stated lead researcher Professor Andrea Nelson.

“Forget technology. The best prescription for patients with venous leg ulcers is good quality nursing care and the occasional belly laugh!”-- researchers.

Hearty laugh more effective than ultrasound therapy
To reach the findings, the UK researchers conducted a five year study on 337 patients with leg ulcers.

Though most ulcers heal themselves in time, the larger ones are hard to get rid of. Hence, the aim of the study was to come up with treatment that could speed recovery.

For this, the researchers focused on patients with hard-to-heal ulcers that had not been cured for six months or longer.

A number of studies have suggested that ultrasound is the best treatment for the condition. Researchers found that while ultrasound therapy offered just little help, it increased patients' medical bills by an average of £200.

In contrast, laughter proved effective in speeding up recovery.

“Forget technology. The best prescription for patients with venous leg ulcers is good quality nursing care and the occasional belly laugh!” stated researchers.

Best treatment method
The researchers added that the best way to treat these ulcers is with “compression bandages and support stockings not magic wands.”

Further, this should be coupled with advise from doctors on diet and exercise.

As hearty laugh will help in curing the ulcers, staying physically fit will reduce the risk of this condition.

Leg ulcers are common in people with varicose veins or mobility problems. Even obesity is one of the cause leading to this condition.

At the same time, they have stressed on the importance of traditional nursing care, as researchers believe that human contact is likely to give way to jokes and banter, which is the key to laughter therapy.

While the traditional method of nursing is cheaper and easier to deliver, it works equally well.