Laughter Therapy May Ease Breathlessness in COPD Patients: ERS 2026

LAUGHTER therapy may help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) breathe more easily, according to new research. 

A clinical trial found that laughter therapy reduced breathlessness and improved overall health, with benefits comparable to established pursed-lip breathing exercises. 

Laughter as a Breathing Exercise 

The study, presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, included 63 people with COPD receiving treatment at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Türkiye.  

Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: laughter therapy, pursed-lip breathing exercises, or no breathing exercises. 

Those receiving laughter therapy were taught exercises including rhythmic clapping and vocal sounds, playful laughter, laughter meditation, and relaxation using calm breathing and smiling. 

Participants in the laughter therapy and pursed-lip breathing groups practised their exercises for 30 minutes, three times a week, over eight weeks. They were initially taught the exercises face-to-face and received additional support through video calls and text messages. 

Researchers assessed participants’ breathlessness, overall health, and level of care dependence before, during, and after the intervention. 

Breathlessness Improved After Eight Weeks 

Following the eight-week programme, both laughter therapy and pursed-lip breathing were associated with significantly reduced breathlessness compared with no breathing exercises. 

Importantly, the improvements in breathlessness persisted one month after the programme ended. Both interventions were also associated with improvements in overall health, although neither affected how much day-to-day care participants required. 

Researchers suggested laughter could exercise respiratory muscles and encourage deeper exhalation, potentially helping patients expel air trapped in the lungs. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects remain unclear. 

Pursed-lip breathing is already an established technique for people with COPD. It involves breathing in through the nose before slowly exhaling through pursed lips, creating gentle back pressure that can help release trapped air. 

The researchers suggested laughter therapy could offer a simple and low-cost addition to existing COPD care, as patients can practise the exercises at home without specialist equipment. 

However, with only 63 participants, the trial was relatively small. The researchers now hope to investigate laughter therapy in larger patient populations and across different countries. 

The findings suggest laughter therapy could offer an accessible way to help manage breathlessness alongside established COPD treatments and pulmonary rehabilitation. 

Reference 

Aldan G et al. The effect of pursed lip breathing exercise and laughter therapy on dyspnea, health status, and care dependence in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ERS Congress, 5th-9th September 2026. 

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