Humor has long been touted as a the best form of medicine, but what does that saying really mean? And how can it be useful to physicians? Today, at Doctor Disability, we’ll take a look at the benefits of laughter, and how it can improve your well-being and your practice. 
Laughter can reduce pain, increase job performance, and allow us to tolerate discomfort. It has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels and even improve the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain, according to Psychology Today. Above all, laughter establishes a positive emotional climate and a sense of connection between two people.
This positivity of humor can help physicians with their practice. According to the American Medical Association, using humor with patients strengthens the physician-patient relationship. It makes you more approachable. It can relieve patient anxiety about medical visits. And, it helps physicians who experience burnout cope with the challenges of their job.
A study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore found that laughter and an active sense of humor could protect you against heart attacks. According to the results, people with heart disease were 40% less likely to laugh than people of the same age without heart disease. The most significant finding of the study was that “people with heart disease responded less humorously to everyday life situations.” Quite simply, they laughed less.
Demand on the healthcare system, and especially on primary care physicians is rising. Increasing administrative demands, long work hours, and concerns about medical liability lawsuits all contribute to burnout. Tools such as humor can help to create a positive environment in their practice.
Using humor can also help physician’s own well-being. Many physicians can become so focused on caring for their patients and staff that they neglect their own physical, mental and emotional wellness.
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