Man Faints After 'Laughing Excessively' While Watching TV, Here's What Doctor Said

Laughter is the best medicine? While many of us believe that, excessive laughter may lead to unexpected consequences including a visit to the hospital. Recently, a 53-year-old man suffered from a rare condition known as Laughter-induced syncope, according to Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad.

The incident occurred when the man was enjoying family time by sipping tea and watching a popular comedy show on TV. The man found the show so amusing that he couldn’t control his laughter for several minutes. However, in a sudden turn of events, he lost control, and his body leaned to one side before he fainted on the ground. The doctor in a post on X mentioned, “His daughter noticed a few jerky movements of his hands.”

Dr Kumar said, “Mr Shyam’s daughter called for an ambulance. After a few minutes, there was some relief, as Mr Shyam opened his eyes and seemed to recognise everyone. He was also able to move his arms and legs and could converse with others. He had no memory, however, of what had just transpired. By the time he was brought to the emergency room, he had completely recovered. His clinical examination was normal. I listened to the entire history and clinically examined him. He had no history of any medical illness, and he was not on any medications,” which was Laughter-induced syncope.

“I discussed the diagnosis with the patient, and attendants and reassured them. I advised Mr Shyam to avoid common triggers for syncope, such as excessive laughter, prolonged standing and excessive physical exertion. In addition, I asked him to keep well-hydrated. I asked him to lie down, if he felt dizzy or if he had a sense of blacking out (symptoms of pre-syncope) so that the blood flow to brain would not reduce. No medications were needed to treat this condition,” Dr Sudhir Kumar added.

The doctor explained that Laughter-induced syncope is indeed a rare condition. It occurs when excessive laughter elevates pressure within the chest, consequently affecting blood flow to the heart. This prompts certain sensors in the body to trigger an unusual response, including a drop in heart rate, widening of blood vessels, decrease in blood pressure and temporary reduction of blood supply to the brain, resulting in a brief loss of consciousness.

A study in Cleveland Clinic claims that syncope, also known as fainting, is usually not a serious issue. Most people don’t need a major treatment unless it’s due to a heart problem. However, it is always advisable to consult a doctor if you experience fainting episodes.