特别广播英语第 292 课：Laugh for the Health of It 笑能治百病-1

Patients and medical practitioners alike have long believed in the healing power of humor. 长期以来，病人和医生都相信幽默能治病。

It is claimed that humor not only affects patients' moods, but can actually help them recover faster. 有人宣称，幽默不仅能影响病人的情绪，还能使他们早日康复。

Several studies, as well as a lot of anecdotal evidence, seem to support this. 好几项研究和很多奇闻轶事的证据似乎都能证明这一点。

Patients in better spirits are known to have higher immune cell counts. 情绪比较好的病人，免疫细胞比较多。

Some have even claimed to have healed themselves of serious illnesses by reading comics and watching comedies. 有一些人甚至宣称通过看漫画和喜剧治好了自己的重病。

Despite all this, many researchers are not convinced. 尽管如此，许多研究人员并没有被说服。

They point to the fact that many afflictions have been known to disappear spontaneously, with or without a daily dose of laughter. 他们指出，事实上不论病人是否接受一日剂量的笑疗，很多苦恼都会自动消失。

They also say that while optimism in general does seem to be related to better health, it is hard to tell which comes first. 他们也表示，虽然一般看来乐观的心态确实与健康有联系，但是很难确定哪个更重要。

Humor in times of stress, however, clearly makes us feel better. On one level, it takes our minds off our troubles and relaxes us. 在受到压力时保持幽默，无疑会使我们心情舒畅。