According to the National Asthma Council of Australia, laughter triggers asthma in almost 39 per cent of Australians having this condition. Though it is normal for you to cause asthma symptoms when you laugh, you must make sure that your asthma symptoms do not aggravate to the point where it is possible to have an asthma attack.

Why does laughing cause asthma symptoms? This is because during laughing, a greater amount of air is inhaled, which dries out the airways (also known as “bronchioles”). This causes the muscles around the airways to temporarily tighten, a condition known as “bronchospasm”. Although initially mild in nature, the condition can aggravate rapidly, resulting in wheezing, shortness of breath and even asthma attack.

Since it is impossible to avoid laughing, the best way to prevent these asthma symptoms is by keeping your asthma well-managed. You can do this by visiting your doctor regularly and taking medications as prescribed by him or her. Common medications include inhaled corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers, the leukotriene modifier drugs, and IgE blockers.

Some people believe that they cannot prevent these asthma symptoms while laughing, so they try to get used to these. However, this practice should be avoided to reduce the risks of having an asthma attack.